Govt, DisCos, others urged to improve power supply

The Federal Government, power distribution companies (DisCos) and gas suppliers have been urged to provide to improve electricity supply.Recently, the Federal Government claimed that the power generation has hit 7,000 megawatts (Mw).Research and Planning Director, Association, Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) Sunday Oduntan said a lot needs to be done to ensure that the sector performs optimally.In an interview on phone with The Nation, he urged stakeholders, including the Federal Government to improve liquidity, proffer solution to gas problems, rid the sector of pipeline vandalism among solving other problems, before power supply would improve in the country.Oduntan said: There are some challenges that need to be tackled by many stakeholders especially the Federal Government, the DisCos and gas suppliers. These include lack of liquidity that hampers operations, energy theft and others.The vandalism of facilities that occur too often is also a serious problem that leads to huge deficit. No bank would lend you money unless your business is bankable.According to him, liquidity crisis is a major threat to the power sector, adding that the issue has culminated in revenue shortfalls, poor network expansion, and others.He said DisCos do not have enough money to repair and replace equipment that is vital to their continued growth in the industry.A non-governmental organi-sation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), in a report, blamed the problems on corruption.The organisation said allegations of corruption have had catastrophic effects on the lives of millions of Nigerians, akin to crimes against humanity as contemplated under the Rome Statue and within the jurisdiction of the court.It said huge amounts of public funds alleged to have been stolen over the years in the electricity sector created these problems.Crimes against humanity are not only physical violence; allegations of corruption in the electricity sector hold a comparable gravity, which the Prosecutor should examine and thoroughly investigate.Corrupt officials and corrupt contractors in the electricity sector know well that their conduct is criminal and injurious, and the denial of human dignity coupled with a radical breach of solemn trust, aggravate their alleged crime, it added.
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