Darkness spreads as TCN hammer falls on more power distribution companies
Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) station. PHOTO :Iwin.org.ng
Oyo, Ogun Customers May Suffer Outage Soon
More electricity consumers across the country have continued to suffer power outage, while some others are jittery, because the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) continues to disconnect power companies over outrageous debts.
Astonishingly just as Aba residents were breathing a sigh of relief after 10 days of darkness, consumers in some parts of Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto and Zamfara are now groaning under black out due to the disconnection of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) by TCN.
Already, electricity consumers in Oyo and Ogun states are at present jittery, as the TCN has threatened to disconnect Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) from the national grid.
The Managing Director of the IBEDC, Engr. Kingsley Achife, said that the development was as a result of the plan by the Market Operator, a unit in Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to disconnect the power company’s feeders from the national grid on account of poor remittances.
He added: “As a revenue collection arm of the electricity value chain, IBEDC sells and distributes electricity. However, the company is unable to meet its financial obligations due to poor payment and huge outstanding bills by customers.
“We, therefore, appeal to our esteemed customers to pay their current and outstanding bills to enable IBEDC to meet its obligations to the Market Operator and other parties in the electricity supply industry to ensure continuous and uninterrupted power supply.”
He also explained that IBEDC, as a responsible corporate organisation, prioritises providing reliable and excellent service to its esteemed customers, but needs timely payment for the energy consumed.
He said: “Payment for electricity is essential to ensure the sustainability of our operations, and it is a responsibility that we all share. We urge our customers to note that failure to pay current and outstanding electricity bills may result in disruption of power to homes, communities, and businesses connected to our network. We encourage all customers to pay their bills promptly to avoid any inconvenience,” he stated.
The Chairman, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Kebbi State, Dr. Abdullahi Bello Umar, bemoaned the prolonged blackout in Birnin Kebbi, calling on government as well as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to wade into the matter and sanction whoever is responsible for the anti-masses decision and ensure restoration of power supply.
“Nigeria is not an animal farm and as such, its citizens should not be subjected to untold hardships. Their economic, security and social lives must be guaranteed. Such is the primary function of government and its functionaries and any other individual or corporate body providing basic necessity whether public or private.
“We demand immediate restoration of power supply and an apology from the management of Kaduna Electric for this brazen abuse of rights of the citizens as such attitude contradicts the ethos of a civilized society,” he said.
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