16 August 2013, Lokoja – Electricity consumers in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, have called on the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to address what they called outrageous bills and epileptic power supply.
Chairman of the Consumers Forum, Mr Samuel Maiyaki, at a stakeholders meeting organized by the PHCN Lokoja Business District, urged the PCHN to improve on its services, saying, high bills and poor power supply were major factors responsible for non-payment of electricity bills.
Other consumers who spoke at the meeting also raised issues bordering on poor power supply, bills and extortion by officials of PHCN.
In his speech, the PHCN Business District Manager, Mr Abdulganiyu Isah, said electricity consumers in the district owe PHCN over N900 million.
He said the Kogi State government has paid the N71.7 million seven years debt its ministries and agencies were owing the PHCN.
Isa added that the Nigeria Army, police and the SSS are owing the PHCN N100 million, N25 million and N4.8 million respectively, calling on them to pay up the debts.
He also urged other consumers in the district to pay their debt, saying that huge debt, inadequate generation and capacity limitation both in transmission and distribution are militating against efforts to boost power supply.
The manager said the PHCN has created more service centres in the city as part of efforts to ensure prompt response to customers’ complaints.
– Usman A. Bello, Daily Trust
