Group alleges promotion of monopoly in power sector

• Accuses NERC of aiding DisCos to exploit consumers
• FG targets 25,000mw in five years

The Association of Public Policy Analysis (APPA) has accused the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of aiding Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in stifling competition in the power sector by restraining operations of licensed Independent Electricity Distribution Networks (IEDN).

It, therefore, called on the Federal Government to monitor the activities of the NERC to ensure that it does not violate the power sector reform act, which it was established to enforce.

President of the association, Mr. Princewill Okorie, who spoke at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, said the DisCos were being given preferential treatment and allowed to operate freely, even when they have not been efficient in service delivery.

Okorie, who alleged that the NERC had openly flaunted the government policy, said the association rejects vehemently the order given to some licensed IEDN such as (PIPP LVI Discos) and Cumimins Power Generation Limited (CPGNL) directing them to suspend electricity supply to certain areas in Lagos State, among others, following petitions against the two companies by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDC) and Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) respectively.

EKEDC and IKEDC had accused the companies of damaging their property, network encroachment, as well as tempering with infrastructure.

He, therefore, implored the Federal Government and National Assembly to investigate the infractions in the NERC and ensure that the directive against the two firms are reversed in line with the June 2019 power policy directive.

He said that Nigerian consumers must be organised and educated on relevant electricity law in order to resist bad policies and their exploitation in the power sector.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government yesterday said that it had finalised arrangement to facilitate an increase in power supply in the country to 25,000 megawatts by 2025.

Buhari said the stimulus would be realised in a three-phase collaboration between the Federal Government and Siemens, a German-based private company.

Speaking during the signing of an agreement with the company at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President charged Siemens, electricity distribution and transmission companies in Nigeria to work assiduously towards achieving 7,000 megawatts by 2021, additional 11,000 megawatts by 2023 and overall grid capacity to 25,000 megawatts.

According to him, government is also committed to the development of the Mambilla Hydro Electric and various solar projects to boost general power infrastructure.