Mild drama ensued at the interactive session of Senate Committee on Power when the Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof. James Momoh, vowed to die to ensure that Distribution Company (Discos) meet up with their obligation to ensure stable electricity.
But, the Managing Director of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Dr. Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, also countered the MD of NERC that he is ready to die twice to ensure that there is power because he has invested millions of dollars into power sector.
He corrected the impression that Discos are stealing money, saying: “I am an investor, I put in millions of dollars to buy it. I am ready to die to ensure that there is Power.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had threatened to withdraw the license of eight electricity distribution companies over an alleged breach of rules.
The MD NERC told the lawmakers that the Discos are yet to respond to the notice issued to them after two weeks.
According to him, “what we sent to them is not notice of cancellation, but for them to show course why their licences should not be cancelled”.
He accused the Discos of continuous rejection of power, saying they failed to invest in the business.
However, the chairman of the Committee, Senator Gabriel Suswan, traced the genesis of crisis in the power sector to when it was privatized in November 2013, saying the privatization was done in a hurry, and there was no proper assessment of the state of power.
The Chairman, who appreciated the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to power sector by proposing over N100 billion to power in 2020 budget, assured that the committee would do everything possible with stakeholders to ensure stable electricity supply in the country.
(C) Control TV 2019.
