The Nigerian government has warned that communities should not be compelled to purchase transformers, cables, poles and other materials on their own.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this known in Ibadan, Oyo State while meeting with the management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company during a facility tour.
He noted that it was the responsibility of the distribution companies to provide transformers, cables and poles to communities so that power supply could improve.
He asserted that the government was committed to providing every need of the people to improve their living standard, lamenting the incessant complaints of power consumers on the metering system and promised to address the situation by canceling the estimated Billings in the power sector.
The minister explained that the ministry was open to collaborating with the private sector to better serve Nigerians in the area of power distribution.
He said; “It is the responsibility of the distribution companies to provide transformers, cables and poles to communities so that power supply can improve.
“A situation where communities buy transformers, cables and poles must stop. I know that you have these centers but how effective are they to ensure that customer complaints are attended to?
“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 improvement in 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. You are not number one, two or three, you are struggling to be number four on the rating”.