Unending Power Problems

By Alphonsus Effi

The power holding company of Nigeria (PHCN), formerly the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) is anticipating the provision of new card reading meters to consumers to alleviate the problems of excessive metre readings, electricity tapping’s, among other malfunctioning by consumers and sharp practitioners in the system.

For several decades, regardless of frequent cash investment by the federal government, local and on the most part nationwide power outages have been the order of the day, instead of the reverse. As a result of such outages or shortcoming, over the years, the Nigerian public has given the company numerous funny acronyms such as “Never expect power always” (NEPA), “No Electric power at all; please light candle” (NEPA Plc.) and please hold a candle now” (PHCN). Thus, the Nigeria government was compelled to implement radical actions leading to the enactment of electric power sector reform act of 2005, which called for unbundling the national power utility company into a series of 18 successor companies, 6 generating companies, 12 distributional companies covering all 36 Nigerian States and a national power transmission company.

These reform measures has since remained a continuum for the sole-purpose of developing the electrical sector of the nation to a global standard that will in furtherance enable the country develop her industries and economy to reasonable heights. With the formation of the Nigeria Electricity regulatory commission (NERC), the PHCN ceased to exist thus; (NERC) was tasked with monitoring and regulation the Nigeria Electricity industry, with issuing licenses to market participants and ensuring compliance with market rules and operating guidelines. Hence, the idea of local distribution companies came into cognizance, with each company responsible for handling electricity distribution in each state or region. As a result of incessant complaints from individual consumers and firms/institutions for what is termed “crazy bills”, the general Nigeria public has put-up an aggressive request for a metering method that would allow for proper reading of consumption rate of customers as utilized and transparent accordingly.
It was the Obansanjo led PDP government that introduced the pre-paid metre system, which measures individuals electrical consumption rate as “pay as you go” system. A format adapted by the communication industries to their customers; that is extremely transparent and devoid of any favour or rancor. As a result of the successful utilisation of these pre-paid metres by those using them today, the general Nigerian public is requesting their sundry distributing electrical firms to make this metering system available to all customers. Thanks to the effort of the senate and other governing bodies, especially the present sitting APC government under the auspices of the minister in charge of electricity, have enabled and advised the various distributing electrical firms to make the “pre-paid metre” available to all customers to promote transparency and development in the ENERGY/ELECTRICAL distribution sector of the economy. This favorable and positive gesture of government which is billed to commence from this month of May, 2019 was similarly proven to be a truism by the various distribution electrical firms in the country.
In cognizance, one of the marketing officers of the distribution companies’ resident and operating in Lagos Mr. Peter Chidiebere Ogbeite attested to the information as a fact and among the Sundry measures of government to regulate transparently and adequately to curb the male functioning and ineptitude in the operations of the power sector for efficient “benchmark” practice-in the sector.
Nevertheless, the body language of the distribution companies from trends happening in the system confirms that the idea of releasing these prepaid meters to consumers in this month of May, 2019 is far fetched. This is because, web-sites advertised to interested candidates to procure these meters have been hijacked by business centers appealing to customers to come and apply for these meters in forms from this business websites for the sum of N1,000 only (one thousand naira) only. They are trying to exploit the desperation of the public for these pre-paid meters to their advantages.
According to Mr. Isaac Orieka, Landlords Association Chairman in the Ajeromi Ifelodun local government Area, allegedly claimed that he is ready likewise other consumers in his vicinity or area to attain the meter at all cost because it would alleviate a lot of financial exploitation compared to the estimated bills distribution companies in Ajeromi Ifelodun areas are extorting from them. He enthused that the Nigerian Electricity regulatory commission (NERC), has a look warm attitude in controlling the DISCOS, hence, the plight of consumers.
Similarly, Mr. James Chijioke, President Electricity consumers association of Nigeria alleged that there was need for NERC to impose sanctions on DISCOS that did not provide pre-paid meters to their consumers as a sign of seriousness and transparency in dealings. Invariably, if anything short of these measures NERC and the DISCOS are hence benefiting from the shortcomings of consumers who are at the receiving end and should stop deceiving the public, he re-affirmed.
NERC also introduced the MAP regulation to new investors in the power sector to fasten the roll-out of meters through engagement of 3rd party investors meanwhile; these 3rd party investors are expected to produce meters locally to the tune of 30% local content out in the supply of meters to DISCOS, while the rest will be imported to cover the over 4 million plus request. Infact the amount involved is too enormous for the MAP adherents to survive with under the dispensation coupled with other attendant variables that will militate against the May, 2019 promise on the part of government to release these all demanding pre-paid meters to large majority of interested consumers in the country hence, it is advisable the federal government takes its time to weigh the implications to enable the supply or purchasing the supply of these meters to consumers at affordable time within their workable time frame-work to avoid unnecessary politically motivated promises which may not be impressive for NERC/DISCOS and the consumers in general.
The energy world in Nigeria, especially Lagos is polluted with sharp practitioners in sales/marketing sector of Diesel and fuel widely known as “black marketers or bunkerers”. These people are fund of preparing their own adulterated fuel, diesel or other lubricants produced by the major oil industries like Total, Mobil Oil and. Exxon oil among many others.
These black marketers or bunkerers are found in various parts of the country especially very close to oil companies. It means, they normally locate their offices close to major licensed oil dealing firms. These cartels are organized to the effect that they influence the availability of electricity supply in various areas of the state where they are located. They do anything possible to influence regular supply of electricity in order to enable them sales of their petroleum products to consumers utilizing generators both diesel and petrol they are commonly located at Ijora and marine beach, Apapa, Lagos.
Presently, according to Mr. Charles N Okonkwo of Amore Street, Tolu, Olodi-Apapa, Lagos testified that resident of areas at Tolu environs in Apapa Ajegunle has sued the DISCO supplying their vicinity at the Igbmosere high court in Lagos Island. The case was recently adjourned for continuation in the coming months. He is even encouraging other members in the neighboring streets to emulate them in sueing the DISCOS, supplying electricity to the Apapa/Ajeromi Ifelodun L.G.A.
This culminates to the fact that aside the laxity on the part of PHCHN to supply electricity to consumers via pre-paid meters – adequately, corrupt business-men/enterprises act as a catalyst in influencing this abnormality also encourage and influence them in master minding this dastardly acts of making electricity consumers suffer indiscriminately through the inadequate electricity supply syndromes. One Mr. Fidelis Wale Odusanya, a veteran oil dealer and member of the Oil dealer. Association of Lagos State Marine-Beach, branch, Apapa Lagos, allege that certain desperate dealers in their ranks always engage in such nefarious practice all in the name of survival. Accordingly, he claimed that if the DISCO officials had not colluded with such oil practitioners, such an event would not have occurred. Thus, it takes two to tango” going by his words. Anyhow, desperate tendencies to promote sale of their petroleum product had lured the “dealers” to tempt the DISCOS to renege against their professional calling of distributing electricity to duly paid consumers this act can be discouraged especially by the provision of the pre-paid metres, which will go a long way in check-mating their excesses because of its modus-operandi, which is “pay as you go”.
As a result the PHCN distribution unit of Apapa L.G.A under the Eko DISCO,
Mr. Kosoko (PRO) Apapa was asked to give his brief on the reliability about the purported issuance of the pre-paid metre this month of May, 2019 as envisaged by the federal government. His position was that MAP (metre Asset Providers) have been designated with the assignment to provide metres to the consumers or public. That as an entity the Eko distribution unit (PHCN) had released 1,000 NO. Meters recently to the public, though not enough but are arranging to do more.
Thus, from these notions it is obvious that the possibility of providing pre-paid metres to the large majority Nigerians according to the will of the federal government in the month of May 2019 is a distant notion.