As the plan on providing free electricity to Nigerians for two months intensifies, there are concerns that the targeted vulnerable poor will not benefit from the initiative. Sources said there is an ongoing plan between the legislature and the executive arm of government to source for over N110 billion to pay for two months electricity for Nigerians with special focus on the poor who are most hit by the coronavirus.


But experts in the power sector, some legislators and experts described the move as “a misplaced priority” and advised those pushing for the project to channel the money to other areas that would have direct impact on Nigerians.

Two weeks ago, precisely on 8 April, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) announced that it was in touch with the House of Representatives and the federal government to give two months free electricity to consumers as a palliative to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. However, the next day, ANED clarified that the free electricity was not the DisCos’s initiative and that the distribution companies would only honour the arrangement when they get paid for electricity bill covering the proposed two months.

Last Thursday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila held a meeting with the Minister of Power, Engr. Sale Mamman; Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Prof. James Momoh and other stakeholders. In a video of the meeting’s proceeding, Gbajabiamila said the Nigerian masses do not care about anything else but the basic necessities of life especially after government(s) had asked people to stay at home for several days or weeks.

“We need to help the poorest of the poorest at this time in Nigeria. I have repeated that we are not doing them a favour; giving people light is not doing them a favour. It is very important that we focus on that and we are doing this for the Nigerian people. “Let’s forget whether it’s between GenCos and DisCos and whoever it is, and lets just deliver on what we are going to deliver,” the Speaker said.

The Power Minister, Engr. Mamman at the meeting said, “We will give all the support as well as technical advice toward the realisation of this objective. We are ready whenever our input is needed.” On his Twitter handle, the minister further said, “We had a very constructive meeting and a joint panel has been constituted to look into it. We are very much concerned with how it can be implemented to benefit the poorest most vulnerable Nigerians.” The DisCos on their part assured that they can deliver the mandate once all the details were worked out and agreed on.

The committee has a term of reference of identifying the people eligible to benefit from the electricity palliative, and the registered electricity consumers. They will also advise the House leadership on means to attain regular supply after the pandemic period.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/as-push-for-n110bn-for-discos-intensifies-no-template-to-reach-poor-nigerians-with-electricity.html