“The NGO, Crusade Against Corruption and Indiscipline in Nigeria Initiative (CACINI) will not hesitate to mobilize Nigerians against the power distribution companies in Nigeria, if they fail to provide pre-paid meters to all houses in Nigeria and improve in the provision of electricity to consumers in the country.”
Managements of electricity distribution and generation companies in Nigeria have been warned against playing politics with the nation’s economy and, by extension, the lives of the citizens.
Ontario, Canada-based Crusade Against Corruption and Indiscipline in Nigeria Initiative (CACINI) gave this warning in a strong message it sent to The DEFENDER on Monday.
CACINI, in the message signed by its President Mr. Waheed Seriki, said the companies, DisCos and GenCos must put an end to politically motivated erratic power supply in the country.
It ward specific as it accused the ownership of power generation and distribution companies in Nigeria of aiding opposition to achieve politic al goals ahead of 2019 general elections.
CACINI’s latest message was at the instance of an article titled, “Where politicization of power distribution sale goofed”, published in The DEFENDER on Sunday following disclosure by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) telling Nigerian electricity consumers where to go to complain about poor power supply.
The Minister had opened up to Nigerians that all assets that power ministry used to control for regular and quality power supply for Nigerians were sold by the past administration and therefore, that power generation and distribution had since been the responsibility of the private business owners to whom those rights were sold.
Sad to know, CACINI warn that: “Generation Companies (GenCos) and Distribution Companies (DisCos) must put an end to the irrational generation and distribution of electricity in Nigeria for political gains simply because the owners of the two companies were members of the opposition party.”
“The two electricity supply sides must know that it is inhuman, illegal and fraud to be using the monopolistic control of electricity which is very vital and essential to the economic development of the country and the lives of the citizens as weapon to frustrate and sabotage the efforts of the government.
“DisCos and GenCos’ actions of irrational and under distribution of electricity in the country has caused a setback for the progress and development of Nigeria economy because lots of industries have moved neighbouring countries. Also, the investors refused to come to Nigeria to invest due to inadequate electricity supply.
“DisCos and GenCos have used their ineffective monopoly of electricity management in Nigeria to cause sudden and untimely death of some sick Nigerians.
“DisCos actions sabotaging electricity have resulted in the inability of the country’s hospitals to function effectively and inability of doctors to perform their duties on patients diligently due to the irrational function of the electricity at the hospitals and the hazards of frequent use of generators at homes and in the hospitals as an alternative to poor power supply.
“The power distribution companies in Nigeria are tactically extorting money and generating incomes from Nigerians by their deliberate refusal to provide pre-paid meters to all the houses in the country, despite the Power Minister, Raji Fashola’s effort and agitation to ensure all houses in Nigeria are metered and estimated electricity bills are eliminated.
“Nigerians are fed up with the electricity companies in Nigeria and they will not accept their mode and system of operation in the country any longer, most especially from 2019.
“The NGO, Crusade Against Corruption and Indiscipline in Nigeria Initiative (CACINI) will not hesitate to mobilize Nigerians against the power distribution companies in Nigeria, if they fail to provide pre-paid meters to all houses in Nigeria and improve in the provision of electricity to consumers in the country.
“CACINI will resist the renewal of the DisCos and GenCo contract licence by the government when it lapses, if the consumers are not offered improved electricity supply and do not see change in the power distribution companies mode of operation from 2019.
“Nigerians will not accept anything short of efficient and effective electricity supply in the country from DisCos and GenCo from 2019.
“DisCos attitude failing to provide pre-paid meters and adequate electricity in all the houses and industries is an act of sabotage and criminal practice because, collecting money with the system of estimated billing without proof of commiserating with the service they are provided is nothing but fraud and exploitation of citizens.
“If the power distribution companies refuse to stop this illegal action and do not start to provide pre-paid meters in all the houses, shops and industries in Nigeria, the Non Governmental Organization, CACINI, will mobilize Nigerians to seek justice for Nigerians against the DisCos and GenCos,” the group said.
