Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister for Power, has advised customers to stop buying transformers, electric poles and other electrical materials for electricity distribution companies (Discos) before they are connected with power.
Adelabu said the provision of electric materials is the responsibility of the Discos since it would be paid for by the consumers.
“A situation where communities buy transformers, cables and poles must stop. As a minister, I don’t want to hear news of communities being asked to purchase electric transformers, cables and poles. If the consumers are paying for the electricity, then, it is the responsibility of the distribution companies to provide these items. There must be an improvement in the power supply. That is what the government planned to do. People should not pay for darkness.
“When people have a 24-hour power supply, they can pay double for electricity because you have saved them the money to power generators. We don’t want to hear the news of communities buying transformers, cables, and poles for themselves again. The federal government frowns at it. You see what we have done in Kaduna. Service to our people is paramount. It is the responsibility that Mr President has placed on us,” he said.
The Minister said President Bola Tinubu is not happy with the situation where communities would be forced to purchase transformers, poles and cables and electricity distribution companies take ownership of the same to provide services that customers would still pay. He warned that his administration would not tolerate this.
