11yrs After Privatisation of Power Sector, Electricity Still Epileptic
By Anthony Ekpo Bassey
ELEVEN years after the privatization of the nation's power sector, there have been unending complaints from electricity consumers about inconsistent power supply, lack of adequate and reliable metering system, over billing, frequent national grid collapses, poor maintenance of power facilities as well as non-replacement of stolen, vandalised or damaged transformers. From North to South, East and West the complaints about the nation's power deficiency remains the same.
Recently, the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly strongly criticised and condemned the ineptitude of the power sector operators in the country.
The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio,remarked that: "They have added no value at all." He also queried a situation where state governors and communities buy transformers for DisCos and still pay for installation.
"Why do state governors and communities buy transformers, hand them over to DisCos and still pay for installation? The people who took over power sector are just making money from those transformers and they are not adding value at all." Visibly furious, Akpabio queried.
He continued: "Why do we hand over GenCos and the TCN can't move what generate? Why are DisCos not investing in transformers, or we have to pay the DisCos for transformers bought by Nigerians? We can make the laws, we can reverse the laws and ask the Federal Government to take back those things from them." Akpabio thundered.
Corroborating his claim, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, APC, Edo North, criticised the activities of the power operators in the country and blamed it on the privatisation policy which he described as: "flawed and exploitative." Oshiomhole said that: "The DisCos are out for profit, while they make our people suffer. I never imagined that a private person will collect money for services he did not render and Nigerians are helpless."
Earlier in a report presentation that investigated national grid collapses and related issues, Chairman Senate Committee on Power, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, attributed the regular grid failures to aging infrastructure, inadequate financial oversight, abandoned projects, security lapses, regulatory inefficiencies, among others.
Meanwhile, the Senate has awarded its Committee on Power, additional 6 weeks to do a thorough investigation into lingering issues in the nation's power sector and report back for legislative exercise.
On the other hand, the DisCos have been complaining of huge debts owed it by government ministries, department and agencies as well as individuals, who utilise power but hardly pay for it.
This was disclosed by the Managing Director/CEO, PHED, Dr. Benson Uwheru, in a Media Parley to mark the 10th Anniversary of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution in Portharcourt, Rivers State.
