/ 8 June 1999

OBASANJO’S PURGES CONTINUES

NIGERIAN President Olusegun Obasanjo Monday sacked the head of the state-run electricity company, National Electric Power Authority (Nepa), and three of the company’s executive directors, his office announced. Obasanjo ordered the dismissal of Hamza Ibrahim and approved the resignation of the executive directors of generation, transmission and engineering, finance and accounts, and distribution and marketing. Nepa is known in Nigeria for the daily routine of lengthy power cuts which have seen the company dubbed Never Electrical Power Always by its numerous critics. The management of the group has in the past been widely accused of pocketing public funds intended for the repairs scheduled for its failing network.