Lawmaker flays investors over poor power supply

The House of Representatives Committee on Power has noted with concern the drop in electricity supply since private sector investors took over the assets of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria in October last year.

A member of the committee, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said since the official handover of the PHCN subsidiary companies to private investors, electricity meters had suddenly disappeared, especially in the rural areas.

She, therefore, urged the new investors in the power sector to step up efforts aimed at improving electricity generation, transmission and distribution in the country.

She also urged them to ensure that an effective meter scheme was rolled out for electricity consumers, adding that all hands should be on deck to ensure that the country was well lighted up.

Dabiri-Erewa said these during the inauguration of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission/Eko Electricity Distribution Company’s Customer Forum office in Lagos.

She also advised electricity consumers to take advantage of the new office to seek redress when necessary.

The Chairman, West Power and Gas Limited, owners of Eko Disco, Mr. Charles Momoh, who addressed journalists after the inauguration of the customer forum office, said the company would invest about N42bn to upgrade the existing facilities.

Momoh, who was represented by a director in the company, Mr. Tunji Owolafe, noted that EEDC had over the last three months studied the system in order to better provide effective, efficient and sustained power supply to consumers.

He also said the next three months would be used to carry out rehabilitation works on the network and set up of a robust metering system for electricity consumers.

The Managing Director, Eko Disco, Mr. Oladele Amoda, said the setting up of the office was a clear confirmation of the company’s readiness to abide by the rules and regulations guiding its operations as it strived to give its customers best services.

He said, “We have long before now been having a symbiotic working relationship with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission in ensuring adherence to global best practices in our day-to-day operations.

“Today’s occasion, therefore, is not the beginning of the relationship between Eko Electricity Distribution Company and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission; rather, it is a fortification of an already strong and robust relationship.”