Disused electricity pole still standing at the Ladipo end of Lagos- Abeokuta Expressway Lagos...on Friday
My experience in recent times concerning
electricity supply, and this could be assumed to be the same experience
for millions of Nigerians necessitated this piece. I bought a prepaid
meter in 2008, and quite early in 2011 the meter stopped working.
Consequently, I was made to pay fixed sum till a new billing system was
introduced.
In the first instance, the only
alternative Power Holding Company of Nigeria now Eko Electricity
Distribution Company could provide is for me to buy a new prepaid meter,
which was annoying and irritating. For a family of three (wife and a
kid), it is so surprising that my monthly bill had jumped from an
initial N5, 000 to almost N30, 000 in a two-room apartment. I have
however kept to my monthly payment of N5, 000 not minding their threats
and what have you.
Many things are wrong with this system.
Firstly, there is no known template or yardstick for determining the
actual electricity consumption, since there is no meter to be read or
monitored. I dare say somebody somewhere arbitrarily determines the
electricity consumption and cost. Just like that. What a manner of an
unfair system could this be? This is unfair. This is what Nigerians are
passing through virtually every month.
Secondly, the issue of N750 fixed charge.
The purpose of the charge has not been explained till today, no
tangible or tenable explanation has been offered for this amount which
is collected monthly. Of what essence this fixed charge if when a
customer’s prepaid meter is faulty, the only available option is
purchasing a new one? Will the government whose mission is fighting
against corruption remain quiet in the face of this rip-off?
Finally, if a customer is ready to buy a
prepaid meter, the process itself is a continued rip-off and
short-changing. Such a customer will be required to clear all his bills
including crazy ones and the estimated bill arrived with no template of
electricity usage, after this a customer is expected to pay through bank
draft the sum of N38,700 for the prepaid meter. Then the customer will
be told that in six months the meter will be ready. In the meantime,
within the next six months (some were not given meter even after 12
months), the very same estimated bill (that the customer was asked to
clear before beginning the process of buying a prepaid meter), will
still be sent to the customer on monthly basis, and as expected the
customer has to pay. To me, this is a booby trap and wickedness. A
customer who has paid for prepaid meter and at same time made to pay
estimated bills.
President Muhammadu Buhari should look
into this issue. The President cannot and must not claim ignorance of
all this practice by electricity providers. The Nigerian Electricity
Regulatory Commission, though empowered to deal with such issues has
been ineffective. If the President claims ignorance of this rip-off, it
behoves Messrs Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu, to bring this to the notice
of the President. President Buhari needs to ask questions on the
provision of prepaid meters, at least made-in-Nigeria prepaid meters
(which are not available to customers) that was presented to him during
the briefing from the Ministry of Power.
Now, a word for the President: I will
state as a matter of fact, that the patience of Nigerians is running low
for the present administration. It is not that Nigerians did not know
the enormity of the problem at hand, and it is not that an average
Nigerian is expecting miracles; the slow pace of governance is worrying.
It is not defensible that a man who pursued a particular position for
almost 13 years would get to such a post and start asking for more time.
Let me say, without apology, before I am painted otherwise (by latter
day Buhari supporters), I voted Buhari in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015
presidential elections.
It is said that the cabal behind these
power organisations in our country is gargantuan and hegemonic. Have
they taken this new government hostage? Again, the government owes the
citizens responsibility to defend them from unfair practices. Citizens
must not be made to pay for what they did not use. Mr. President, this
is the truth.
- Adedeji Nurudeen Badejo wrote in from 10 Adeniji Street, off Adebayo Street, Surulere, Lagos State, badejo.adedeji@gmail.com
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