Enough is Enough, Activists Demand End To Extortion By Electricity Companies

By Chinyere Ikem, LAGOS/
Over the years, Nigeria has being under the yoke of bad governance and one of the effect of such maladministration of the nation’s wealth is the huge and unproductive investment in power sector. Electricity for instance has been a conduit pipe through which Nigerian citizens were milked of their hard earn monies. The Electricity distributors give out ‘crazy’ imaginary bills and compel Nigerians to pay even when the light were not supplied. And many Nigerians cry, wail and spell courses on government and power companies who subject them to such prolonged hardship.

Adding their voices to this ‘authority stealing’ human rights activists and civil societies groups recently called on the Federal Government to stop the planned hike on electricity tariff. According to them the Nigeria power sector for long has been taking undue advantage of bad leaders and exploiting Nigerian electricity consumers. The Labour groups and civil society organizations decided to take up gun let and challenge the inordinate practices of power companies in the country, The union comprising Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), Ajegunle People Movement (APM), frontline Human Rights Activists among others advised Discos not to hike tariff amidst the tangled web of biting economy recession that has brought so much pains on all Nigerians, the increment is largely unaffordable. Speaking further, the spokesperson of the group, Toluwani Adebiyi Esq says that the unfair trade practices has been challenged at the Federal High Court Lagos in suit No FHC/L/CS/768/2015, culminating into the landmark judgment of 13th July, 2016 by honourable justice M.B Idris, in favour of Nigeria consumers.

He said discos cannot increase tarrif when there is still many Nigerians without prepaid meters after 4 years of privatization, contrary to the MOU between federal government and the private sector mandating Discos to issue meters to all Nigeria consumers within 18 months from 1st November 2013 when the sector was privatized. Discos cannot hike tarrif with the usual purpose of bringing improvement which has consistently remain mirage many Nigeria communities are in unending blackout for months and years,most communities in Okikipupa, Ilaje-Ese Odo/Ikale and most have been in total darkness, mentioning specific case of Akoko Land which has been without electricity for the past 5years.

The publicity Secretary, Democratic Socialist Movement,  Chiedu Bosah called on Federal Government to save the masses from power crisis .”Nigerian are living in darkness we need electricity. Light in  many communitie is having two days on three days off, it is worse than before as many transformer have been packed up. So, that that Nigerians enjoy light than this under Abacha Government.

We have lost confident in the electricity sector there is no improvement it is high time government take back electricity from private sector, enough is enough Nigerian can not be taken for granted.