The Federal Government has announced that it will revoke the licences of power distribution companies if they do not improve their service and increase the supply of electricity to consumers. This comes in response to widespread complaints about the quality and quantity of power provided by the companies, which has caused disruption and frustration for many Nigerians.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made the announcement on Wednesday, March 6, in response to persistent complaints about poor power supply.
On his social media account, Adelabu stated that the CEOs of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, and the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria have been called to a meeting to explain the challenges that are currently affecting power supply nationwide.
“The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the worsening power supply in their respective regions and to collectively find lasting solutions,” he said.
He added that “the ministry has been exerting pressure on the Generating Companies to enhance their performance, resulting in a recent increase in generation to over 4000MW. Despite this progress, certain distribution companies are failing to adequately distribute the power supplied by TCN, while vandalism of power infrastructure exacerbates the problem in regions such as Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.”
He stated his commitment to hold all distribution companies accountable for their performance as “willful non-performance will not be tolerated, and severe consequences, including license revocation, may be imposed.”
He added, “Additionally, I have instructed TCN to prioritise repair works on damaged transmission towers and power lines to improve supply in affected regions. During recent supervisory visits to power-generating plants, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by the sector.
“Plans are underway to settle outstanding debts owed to power generation and gas supply companies, which will alleviate the financial strain and contribute to improved generation levels nationwide. I urge electricity consumers to remain patient as we work tirelessly to address these issues and provide better service to all Nigerians.”