HURIDE asks FG to withdraw Discos’ license over their unprofessionalism

The Federal Government has been asked to urgently withdraw the license of Distribution Companies (Discos)  due to inability of the companies  to supply power to its consumers across the nation and endemic corruption.

The Human Right, Liberty Access and Peace, Defenders’ Foundation  (HURIDE), in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja after its crucial expanded National Executive meeting to discuss the deteriorating power supply supply in the country particularly in South East,South South,South West and other Northern regions.

He said corruption and callousness of EEDC,KEDC,EDEC  among other Discos names has brought untold hardships to Nigerian citizens , they  accused  National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) of inability to discipline distribution companies due their alleged sponsorship of All Progressives Congress (APC)  2015 and 2019 presidential elections.

“That is why there is deterioration and lack of improvement in power sector since the inception of this administration in 2015, in spite of huge investment in the power sector” the group said.

They lamented that despite stupendous resources pumped into the sector, the country has not been able to generate up to 5,000 megawatts due to endemic corruption and unprofessionalism on both sides of Discos and Federal Government.

The group challenged Federal Government  to declare a State of emergency in energy sector because the situation showed ” incapacitation and inaction by both FG and Discos”.

They called for the overhauling and prioritisation of energy needs of the country to ensure a certain degree of transparency in the system.

“But these cannot be possible if the present Discos still remained in charge.
Therefore they should be axed, even NERC should be overhauled. It is sad that South Africa has 90, 000 mw, other Southern African countries like Botswana have over 70,000mw and above but Nigeria  has been unable to generate 5,000mw” the group decried.

They  said the Minister of Power, the chairman and members of NERC should  immediately resign and a new Minister and an interim Management board made up competent  professionals, men and women of integrity appointed to manage the crisis ridden  power sector.

They also said an independent professional companies should be appointed to manage Discos for one year, when new sets of investors should take over in a transparent manner.

In a related development, HURIDE has lamented the plunging of Onitsha and its environs into total darkness.

They said apart from Onitsha metropolis, the adjourning towns like Obosi, Iyiowa, Odekpe, Ogbaru, Awada, Ogidi, Nkpor, 3-3, Nkwelle, Ogbunike among many other communities have  been reduced to two- hour supply daily, while the consumers are being compelled to pay over N10, 000 per a month estimated billings.