Residents around Governors Road, Ikotun, have berated the power Distribution Companies (DisCos) for neglecting and plunging them into outer darkness.
Some residents and business owners who spoke with the Guardian opined that the situation has deteriorated after DisCos have started prioritizing premium customers, otherwise known as Band A, to meet the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) requirement of a minimum 20-hour daily supply under the current regime.
Irked by the proposed plan by Discos to increase its tariffs, Ikotun Band B and C users fumed against the move, saying they were already experiencing unacceptable outages, even after paying their mostly estimated bills.
Mrs Agnes Oluma, a small-scale frozen food businesswoman around Governors Road, revealed that she is already considering relocating elsewhere due to epileptic power supply in the area.
”It is a terrible situation here at Governor Road because it has become difficult to enjoy power supply for three hours at a stretch, and my frozen food business has suffered greatly
”Yes, we know we are on Band B, but that does not mean we should not enjoy power supply too,” she lamented.
Concerned residents around Liasu road, Egbe hinted that, unlike the situation before, when those in Band ‘A’ were placed on higher rates, and had access to power supply for some hours daily, they live in complete darkness for days.
These Band A users also complained about the epileptic service rendered by DisCos, particularly the persistent power outages despite high tariffs, saying they were not receiving the promised supply hours.
Mr Ariyo Ezekiel, who resides around Liasu road, Egbe, lamented that the unending outages around leave Band A users in constant darkness despite paying higher rates.
”There is no difference between Band A and B as far as I’m concerned because we now experience power outages around Liasu road. Unlike before, when we enjoyed minimum of 20 hours of power supply daily, the situation has worsened and businesses are suffering,” he told The Guardian.
Only recently, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu announced that the federal government intends to adopt a cost-reflective approach to electricity pricing. He highlighted that electricity subsidies are unsustainable due to a ₦4 trillion debt in the power generation sector.
Adelabu stressed the need to eliminate these subsidies to stabilize the sector and encourage full liberalization. He emphasized that while targeted subsidies will continue for economically disadvantaged Nigerians, the overall subsidy system is financially unsustainable for the economy.