WHEN the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) successor companies was concluded recently, the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, urged Nigerians to look forward to a new era of improved power supply.
The exercise involved the sale of eleven distribution companies (DISCOS), seven generation companies (GENCOS) and the appointment of Manitoba Hydro International of Canada to manage the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
There was no doubt that there would be a necessary period for teething problems, more so as some of the generation companies, such as Afam, Kaduna and Sapele experienced late completion of their privatisation. Nigerians knew that it would take some time before the new private operators would fully take over and begin to make the much expected difference.
About a month into the new era of private management of electric power in Nigeria, the teething problems are in full swing. Power supply has fallen to abysmal levels, while many consumers from across the country are groaning over new “crazy” bills which no one appears to be available to explain the rationale for them.
Before now, people knew who to blame and call names when this kind of problem cropped up: the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) when the moniker was changed. Right now, no one knows who to run to for explanation.
The manner the new owners and operators of the nation’s power system have started is not encouraging. This is quite different from what took place in the telecoms sector, where competition, promos and avalanches of public enlightenment invaded the media.
Private operation of telecoms took a life of its own from the blast of the whistle and established a bridge to the public that helped shape the industry to the great example that it has become today.
While the new private operators take their time to assume authority, we believe that the Federal Government must continue to assist them in every way possible and go the extra mile to let the consuming public know what is happening and how to seek solutions to the general confusion arising from this novelty.
The Federal Ministry of Power and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) should mobilise information and public enlightenment and also prevail on the new owners to make contact with their customers and start relating with them for serious business.
The confidence of the public must be buoyed through the provision of adequate information and guidelines for approaching the new system. Nigerians must be made to understand steps they could take to leverage on the new opportunities in the sector, create wealth and offer job possibilities to our teeming youth.
Source: Vanguard
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