Mkpoikana Udoma 05 May 2017, Sweetcrude, PortHarourt -A group known as South South Youth Consultative, Enlightenment and Mobilisation Council, SSYCEMOC, has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently review the privatisation process of the the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.
The group said only a review of the privatisation process of the power sector would save the nation from poor and epileptic power supply.
National Director of Publicity of the group, Mr. Chris Nnodim, in a statement said the private investors that bought over the PHCN have not proved that they have the capacity to meet the needs of the people.
Nnodim regretted that instead of bringing in more investors, the poor power situation is scaring off investors, and urged the National Assembly Joint Committee on Privatisation to cast another look at the PHCN Privatisation.
“Four years after that privatisation, we are yet to see improved power supply, we are yet to see improved infrastructure, so what has satisfied the privatisation exercise? I think that exercise should be reviewed.”
The youth group called on Federal Government to withdraw licence from any of power distribution companies that lacks the capacity to meet standards in the interest of Nigeria and local industries.
Nnodim noted that the development of the nation depends on local industries and called on the Federal Government to make policies that can drive local economy through small scale industries.
He equally blamed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, for failing to protect the interest of the masses who are forced to pay for services not rendered by the electricity distribution companies across the nation.
He challenge NERC to justify its existence by making sure that there is standard stressing that one sure way of maintaining standard was by ensuring that consumers were metered across the nation.
“In other countries, there is stability in power supply and the process of billing is scientific such that you as a consumer can control and predict your charge.
“But here, you pay whatever the distribution company asks you to pay irrespective of the level of services rendered to you,” he said.
