Federal Government has read the riot act to foreign oil companies operating in the country to either cooperate with it on the power emergency or face some sanctions. To this end President Musa Yar'Adua has threatened to wield the big stick against  companies that fail to meet their obligations to Nigeria over the issue.

Presidential Spokesman, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi, made this disclosure at the State House in Abuja yesterday where he added that some technical details are still being sorted out with the oil companies and the Federal Government. The president's resolve, he noted, had ensured the cooperation of the oil companies who were hitherto reluctant to fulfil their obligations.

"Some of them are showing signs of non-cooperation but now they are beginning to realise the resolve of the president because once the emergency is declared in the power sector, there will be stiff sanctions if they fail to meet their obligations and all these will be clearly spelt out as pre-conditions for continued operations in our country.

"The president means business on this issue and wants to see more commitment from the oil companies doing business in Nigeria," he said. Adeniyi added that President Yar'Adua would engage the oil firms in dialogue so as to reach a conclusion.

Once all the issues are sorted out with all stakeholders, he noted, the emergency will be declared, adding that before then, power situation is being addressed and all the targets will be met. The state of emergency , Adeniyi further argued, will bring about gradual increase in the power situation until the country can begin to take electricity for granted like most developed countries.