In a stern warning issued on Monday, January 15, the Nigerian government has cautioned Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) operating in the country against compelling communities to purchase electricity transformers, cables, and poles. The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, emphasized during his working visit to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in Ibadan, Oyo State, that the provision of such items falls solely under the responsibility of the DisCos.

Adelabu stressed the importance of improving power supply, stating, "People should not pay for darkness. When people have a 24-hour power supply, they can pay double for electricity because you have saved them the money to power generators." He expressed the government's disapproval of communities independently procuring power infrastructure, citing the exemplary case in Kaduna.

Despite repeated warnings, electricity customers nationwide have continued to purchase transformers, poles, wires, meters, and fund repairs for transformers out of desperation. The Commissioner-in-charge of Consumers Affairs at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Aisha Mahmud, highlighted the consumers' lack of awareness regarding their rights. She emphasized that it is not the responsibility of consumers to buy power assets and equipment, reiterating that provision for such investments is already included in the utilities' tariff.

This warning aligns with the government's commitment to improving service delivery and ensuring that consumers are not burdened with the financial responsibility of purchasing essential power infrastructure.

Source: icirnigeria.org