Civil society demand free electricity metres to residents of Borno State

By: Bodunrin Kayode

The network of Civil society organizations in Borno state (NECSOB) led by its Executive Director Comrade Bulama Abiso has demanded for the resumption of distribution of free digital metres for electricity supplies to residents of Borno State.

The Executive Director stressed during a news conference in Maiduguri today that the pains of the ongoing adjustment of the Nigerian economy is felt in a double way by Borno residents which is why the Yola electricity should not hoard metres meant for the people.

He said that as far as this country is concerned, north east Nigeria has been heavily starved of supplies of electricity adding that something must be done urgently to correct this anomaly.

Comrade Abiso, called for the reversal of many anti people policies like shortage of electricity which he noted were not in the interest of residents because they were hurting them.

He said they are equally worried about the fact that the gas plant was not getting enough attention at this auspices time which is why the state capital has been in darkness for over two weeks now.

On the recent pronouncement of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) the Executive Director went on: “It came to us as a great shock, the recent announcement by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory
Commission (NERC) on the increase in electricity tariff without putting into account the current
predicaments faced by the people of Borno State.

” We’re also appealing to the Federal Government, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission
(NERC), the Generation Companies (GENCO), Transmission Companies of Nigeria (TCN), the Borno State Government and all other relevant stakeholders to support the reversal of this anti people policy, considering the current recovery status of the state.

“We also observed with dismay how the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) distributes
electricity bills for the months of February and March to households when there has been no power
supply.

” This concern is affecting every household on the estimated billing system occasioned by
abrupt disruption of free installation of the metering systems that ought to have been distributed but are now alleged to be sold at exorbitant prices. Consequently, we are requesting that YEDC resumes the free distribution and installation of the metering system to every household in Borno state.

“We’re equally calling on the YEDC to also enhance its distribution capacity to sufficiently meet the demands of the metropolis. This is because we have observed in recent times that the consequences associated with the lack of power supply in the state includes: loss and dysfunctional state of small businesses and livelihood ventures, water scarcity across the state and has led to untold hardship faced by people in the revered month of Ramadan;

Civil society demand free electricity metres to residents of Borno State