Ganduri:
Abuja — The 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) in Nigeria's electricity market Tuesday accused the federal government of lying on its claims of improvement in power generation in the country, stressing that generation capacity as at January 2015 was 6,421 megawatts (MW) and not 4,000MW as often claimed by the government.
The operators also took a swipe at the federal government for asking them to either upgrade their efficiency levels in the market or quit the stage, saying that such orders would not stop the imminent collapse of the electricity sector.
Speaking through the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of their umbrella association, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Mr. Sunday Oduntan, the Discos explained that the government has largely created more confusion in the operations of the country's electricity sector, than it had helped it.
Reacting to the government's claims that power generation had peaked to 7,000MW since President Muhammadu Buhari came into office in May 2015, Oduntan explained that as at January 2015, Nigeria already had close to that generation figure.
He also described as false, the government's repeated claim that an excess generation of 2,000MW was idle.
He said: "A review of NERC's "Daily Energy Watch" for January 28, 2015 would indicate a generation availability of 6,421MW - divided into peak of 4,230MW and constrained energy of 2,191MW. In other words, it is misleading to state that available generation has grown from 4,000MW in 2015, as a measure of progress, given that a volume of generation slightly under 7,000MW already or previously existed, prior to the beginning of this administration.
"Furthermore, there is no stranded 2,000MW. While there is an available capacity of 7,000MW, the best that can be generated, at this time, is 5,000MW. This is because there is insufficient gas to power the thermal plants due to gas line limitations - for instance, the non-completion of the Oben pipeline, and the absence of a commercial framework that would encourage gas exploration."
According to him, generation that is constrained by gas amounts to an average 1,500MW daily, adding that 25 out of 28 generation plants are fuelled by gas.
He explained that transmission grid frequency, line limitation and water management made up the difference of the balance 500MW of constrained generation.
He added: "In simple terms, the often-advertised and pronounced Disco limitation to take on 2,000MW of additional generation is not consistent with the facts or reality. This, therefore, shows that very little has actually changed contrary to the minister's constant pronouncements.
"It is with much regret that we feel compelled to respond to the significantly distorted picture that has been painted of the Discos by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing (Mr. Babatunde Fashola), in his press briefing of Monday, July 9, 2018."
He said the challenges of the Nigerian Electricity Industry (NESI) could not be turned around based on a culture of misrepresentation, adding that the Discos had declined to rebut previous inaccurate assertions by the minister and other government functionaries in good faith.
He said the ministers' recent pronouncement was a clear attempt to demonise the Discos, who by the structure of NESI, are the faces of a difficult sector.
Oduntan, in an interaction with journalists in Abuja Tuesday, also faulted the government's order to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) through Fashola, to get them to buckle down or shape up, adding that no amount of government's order would correct the failings of the sector, which they added would lead to its collapse.
He further said: "We are also left wondering whether such demonisation of the Discos is camouflage for the absence of the effective policy leadership that is desired for implementing the enabling environment that is necessary for the viability and sustainability of NESI?
"We recognise that we are on the crux of a political season, in which all manner of advantage is being sought by political contenders, we however do not want to be used as the whipping dog to advance other people's agenda."
He stated: "Our members, the Discos, are not politicians, even though they distribute a product that is of great importance to politicians, in view of the needs of their constituents. Our constituency which consists of customers, employees, bankers, vendors and investors have a greater interest in improved service delivery than the adoption of cheap theatrics and propaganda for political advantage."
He noted the Discos were committed to their obligations, as well as meeting the performance obligations of the agreement that they have with the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE).
He also stated that the Ministry of Power had taken away the independence of the NERC by constantly imposing on it orders to execute in the sector.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/07/18/discos-fg-lied-on-power-generation-capacity/?amp

“It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It's what we do consistently.” ― Anthony Robbins

"Self inflicted Blindness...... Those who choose to be blind to the truth would never see the truth even if it stands right on their nose."

"..If falsehood climbs up,the truth always remains at the bottom waiting for it to climb down..."

seunmsg:
The roguish discos want to fight back with lies and distorted claims. The owners of the discos are all cronies and fronts of PDP members who bought the old PHCN from Jonathan. Power is definitely not allowing them get away with their incompetence and poor deployment of prepaid meters hence the attack.

I am not interested in the argument of generation figures but in terms of actual provision of electricity to homes and businesses, there has been significant improvement all over the country since 2015. Sometimes, I don't fuel my gen for like a month due to improved power supply. Kudos to Fashola for his great work in the power sector.

seunmsg:
The roguish discos want to fight back with lies and distorted claims. The owners of the discos are all cronies and fronts of PDP members who bought the old PHCN from Jonathan. Power is definitely not allowing them get away with their incompetence and poor deployment of prepaid meters hence the attack.

I am not interested in the argument of generation figures but in terms of actual provision of electricity to homes and businesses, there has been significant improvement all over the country since 2015. Sometimes, I don't fuel my gen for like a month due to improved power supply. Kudos to Fashola for his great work in the power sector.

gurunlocker:


Owners of DISCOS are GEJ friends? Really? The way you guys think is absurd . You think the lawmakers, EFCC and others won't have probe the sales and fish them out if it were really sold to GEJ kinsmen?

Any time (most of the time) this useless government lies are always busted, but you will blame others for your woes. This will definitely happen, the party structures was built on lies.

seunmsg:


No vex o, they are Buhari friends and cronies. Jonathan was so nice that he sold the discos to Buhari's friends and APC members. You can see your thinking that is not absurd.

gurunlocker:


Who said they are Buhari people? I didn't even mention that.

But for you to say they are GEJ friends make you sound somehow. Fine, you dislike GEJ, but you can't be blaming all your woes on him. I guess you are so sure they are his friends?

Why didn't you say something to the part I mentioned that the sales would have been vetted if it doesn't follow due process by the 8th Assembly and EFCC? Guess you missed that part?

For example, contracts have been awarded in this administration at the FG level, can we say they are Buhari friends?

seunmsg:


Jonathan sold the discos to his friends and cronies and it is even public knowledge. Even mama bought one of the discos through a front. Buhari refused to cancel the sales so as not to set a bad precedent and not present the government as incapable of honoring agreements. Stop defending rogues my friend.

seunmsg:


No vex o, they are Buhari friends and cronies. Jonathan was so nice that he sold the discos to Buhari's friends and APC members. You can see your thinking that is not absurd.