The problems PHCN is causing Nigerians have gotten to an
alarming state. If you are a visitor to the country, you
would not need to be told that the country is having a
serious issue with power supply. While majority are
complaining of serious power problems, some are still
saying that there is no problem and that power is being
dispensed equitably. These are some of the opinions as
compiled by SATURDAY VANGUARD.
The sector is epileptic —Arthur Oguezeh
The inconsistent nature of PHCN service in the country is
so bad that some experts have described it to be epileptic
in nature. This has been one of the major reasons why
most industrialists are afraid to invest in the country and it
is making the rate of unemployment to be very high. In
my area in Ikotun,Lagos State, though they say that they
are sharing the supply, we cannot still differentiate
between when it is our turn and when it is not because, it
is complete blackout all through. Power supply is not
consistent. It is so bad.
It’s not that bad here—Ogeri Ndume
We don’t really have much problem in the area where I
am staying. But other parts of the State are really finding
it very hard. Some areas stay for weeks and even months
without power supply while others enjoy power supply. My
question is, does it mean some people pay for it and
others don’t or some are more important than others?
They should justify their pay—Andy Oke
I have no doubt than to believe that Power is the most
corrupt sector in the country. They never make mistakes
in collecting their bills and they always make mistakes in
supplying consumers. Sometimes, they bring the bills even
before month-end and you can stay till the end of the
month without power supply. The government should tell
them to account for all the funds being channeled to the
sector.
They should make power-supply effective—Olajide
Akingbade
I am totally against this wicked compulsory increment of
monthly tariff from N500 to N750. It is daylight robbery.
You can’t imagine PHCN increasing the unjust tariff four
times within the short period of introducing the prepaid
meter. They should first think of how to better their
services before initiating the idea of tariff increment.
They said is for a limited time–Jasper Ezeagwu
When I noticed the new charges on my bill, sincerely I
was rattled because they started with N150 and later
increased it to N300 and to N500. Now it’s N750. So I
quickly rushed down to PHCN office in FESTAC town,
before the Customer Complaint department made me
realize that every month of July is higher because of the
energy they purchase from their major distributors but by
August, if it continues, then more questions will have to be
asked because their service does not justify the amount.
They should reduce their tariff -Oshodi Omoyele
The increment is terrible and unjustifiable; they just want
to inflict more suffering on the masses every time. The
services they render do not justify what we pay. If they
are rational enough, they ought to reduce the service
charge from N500 that it used to be to N200 because of
their poor performance. This N750 is unjust extortion.
It will soon go up to N1,000–Okechukwu Anthony
It is very terrible and annoying. Despite the poor services
PHCN renders, it still has the effrontery to increase the
tariff from the initial N150 to N750. What the authority of
PHCN is otherwise telling Nigerians is that before next
year, we should be getting ready to pay N1,000 for the
services we are not enjoying.
Service charge should not be increased when services are
poor–Mrs Eze
I sent by daughter to PHCN office to pay our electricity bill
recently and she came home with the bill. When I read
through it, I called her to explain what the N750 charge
was about but she could not explain. So I went to their
office myself where I was informed that it has been
increased since June. Even if there should be any change
in the tariff, should it be at a time when there is no
improvement in their services and many people have lost
confidence in their services. They used to give us power
at night and then black-out by the day but now even for
three days stretch, they have not given us power to
justify the N750 service charge.
There is no justification for it –Oforgbu
I am highly disappointed with the whole idea of this cruel
N750 service charge PHCN is introducing. PHCN in all
ramification is not living up to expectations based on the
fact that they are being managed by government and we
are not supposed to revolt against the government of the
day. But their services don’t justify the charges they are
introducing now.
It’s extortion–Ezekiel Jomaya
The increase is unjustifiable because their service is yet
to be constant. So what is the motive behind this monthly
charge? We are not enjoying power except we fuel our
generators constantly which people of neighbouring
countries like Ghana hardly experience in their country.
It’s high time our leaders take the bull by the horn by
making sectors as formidable as Power and Steel to be
more effective in this country.
PHCN has failed— People’s verdict
Undeserved punishment on Nigerians—Kuti Titilayo
The increment in PHCN charges has only brought
undeserved hardship to Nigerians. Power supply in this
country has continued to deteriorate despite the billions of
naira expended to improve the sector.
Accurate measurement and effective pricing does not
reflect in the management of PHCN. The supply and use
of electricity services fall under economics of scale. What
we need is accountability in power supply especially from
PHCN officials. For instance, there are some houses in the
rural area without meters, yet they receive bills at the end
of the month.
The question is where is that money going to and how did
they arrive at the bill? Again , the disconnection and
reconnection fee collected by PHCN officials has no
receipt. I will like to see the PHCN accounts some day.
Nigerians already have a strong resentment for poor
governance, corruption and embezzlement of public fund
and the increment of electricity charges may create civil
unrest.
Again,the Federal Government should accelerate the
entire production and distribution capacity of the power
sector in order to ensure adequate and reliable power
supply to stimulate economic recovery and development of
the country.
Worse since the emergence of PHCN — Odubela
Olawunmi
PHCN is not helping the economy of Nigeria. It was even
better when it was National Electric Power Authority NEPA.
Then, we enjoyed low charges like N1200 and stable
electricity . Supply has been worse since the emergence of
PHCN, high charges without regular supply.
Presently ,most areas of Lagos State are in total darkness.
Some areas in Lagos even operate on two days on and a
day off. The electricity supply is less than six hours on
daily basis and at the end of the month, the least bill is
N7000 for what I did not use. As a good citizen of this
country, I pay my tax in order for the government to
provide social amenities but the reverse is the case.
The epileptic power supply is affecting small scale
businesses in my area. Many shops owners have
abandoned their shops since they cannot afford the use of
generators all the time, leaving landlords with vacant
shops.
To make matters worse, armed robbers have also
capitalize on this darkness to operate almost every night.
This alone is saddening. After spending the day hustling,
you return home to observe vigil for fear of being
attacked.
I strongly believe that if Ghana can celebrate years of
stable electricity, then nothing should stop Nigeria. The
government should mandate the use of prepaid cards for
every house and with that, you will be sure of paying for
what you consumed.
I cannot pay charges that is equal to my house rent—
Femi Akinyemi
A civil engineer and contractor: As far as am concerned,
hiking of PHCN is out of it. I cannot imagine paying bill
that is almost the same with my house rent. In fact, I still
wonder if Mowe, Ogun state is still in the map of Nigeria.
Here, we suffer inadequate transformers. Even when
there is power supply ,most part of the environ would not
have electricity or have a low voltage. I suggest the
government works on this and forget anything about
increasing charges.
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