Joseph Bakare
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has traced the sharp drop in electricity generation to pipeline vandalisation saying that operators in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) should not be blamed.
Shortly after the commencement of the increased electricity tariff on February 1, electricity generation climbed to an all time 5, 074mw, raising suspicion among consumers that electricity generating companies (GENCOs) and distribution companies (DISCOs) wanted the public to accept the hike.
But this has dropped to below 2, 700 mega watts, according to figures from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), in Abuja, Acting Chairman of NERC, Dr. Anthony Akah, blamed sabotage of gas pipelines for the crises.
Akah expressed regrets that gas pipeline vandalism was on the increase and called for stiffer measures to check the menace.
At the meeting, NERC and CPC agreed to work together on consumer protection. They also pledged to ensure that consumers get meters as prescribed in the service agreement Discos had with the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), among other issues.
In a similar development, the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) yesterday forged a partnership to enforce technical standards in the electricity and power industry.
Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, while playing host to the agency led by its Managing Director, Peter Ewesor, pledged police protection for enforcement officers, pledging to direct state Commissioners of Police to support the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA),.
Arase said, “You can be assured that we will put our access at your disposal across the length and breath of the country. And I will give my directives to my colleagues on the field to say whenever your people have any challenge just feel free to go to any of the commissioners in the states, where the challenges are and you can be assured that they will assist you.”