Oil & Energy
Reps Committee Urges Nigerians To Pay Electric Bills
The House of Representatives has urged Nigerians and corporate bodies to pay their electricity bills to enable the country shore up revenue to tackle current recession.
Chairman, House Committee on Power, Mr Dan Asuquo, made the appeal when he led other committee members on oversight function at the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), in Port Harcourt.
He said that payment of bills will enable electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) and other investors to invest in critical power infrastructure to expand their network.
“Nigerians and host communities need to pay their electricity bills because power can never be free or cheap.
“Nigerians have a right to be given access to power and quality power but it must be at a cost.
“People expect government to subsidise everything from power, fuel to education, but today, the reality is that we have to pay for services that we get.
“We will continue to engage National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and assets owners and players in the chain to see how we can resolve issues.
“We are in recession and one of the basic things that will take us out of recession is power,” he said.
Asuquo said the challenge to provide stable electricity to homes would be addressed through government-direct intervention and sacrifice and patriotism from citizens.
He said that Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) currently generated about 5,000 megawatts of electricity, adding that efforts are ongoing to boost generation to 8,000 megawatts before the end of 2017.
The Reps member said the committee was also looking at addressing issues associated with billing and metering with focus to proffer solutions for both DISCOs and customers.
“We have interracted with Enugu and Port Harcourt DISCOs upon realisation that a lot of things were not done properly prior to their acquisition of public assets.
“Most of the Gencos and Discos are running at loss on the basis that there are no proper funding and international investments because the investors believe the market analysis is not right,” he said.
Asuquo said that some power projects ongoing in the country had been frustrated due to “outrageous compensation” sought by host communities.
According to him, these projects have lasted for 12 years because host communities will not allow the projects to go on.
Earlier, the Managing Director of 4Power and owners of PHED, Mr Matthew Edevbie, said the company lost about N2.2bn monthly to unpaid bills and electricity wastages by customers.
He said that about 90 per cent of meters in homes were by-passed which was partly responsible for the revenue loss.
“We have a lot of challenges as an industry, particularly as PHED operated in the most difficult environment compared to other Discos in the country,” he said.
The Tide source reports that the House Committee convened a public hearing to address some salient issues confronting the sector.
Nigeria’s losses due to crude oil theft has been said to be more significant than those of some other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC).
The Chairman, Senate Ad- hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Senator Ned Nwoko, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Nwoko noted with dismay the detrimental impact of the issue, which, he said include economic damage, environmental destruction, and its impact on host communities.
According to him, the theft was not only weakening the Naira, but also depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District described the scale of the theft as staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day.
Nwoko disclosed that the ad hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft, which he chairs, recently had a two-day public hearing on the rampant theft of crude oil through illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and the systemic gaps in the regulation and surveillance of the nation’s petroleum resources.
According to him, the public hearing was a pivotal step in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation.
‘’Nigeria loses billions of dollars annually to crude oil theft. This is severely undermining our economy, weakening the Naira and depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social development.
‘’The scale of this theft is staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day more than some OPEC member nations produce.
‘’This criminal enterprise fuels corruption, funds illegal activities and devastates our environment through spills and pollution.
‘’The public hearing was not just another talk shop; it was a decisive platform to uncover the root causes of crude oil theft, bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
‘’It was a platform to evaluate the effectiveness of existing surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms; Identify regulatory and legislative gaps that enable these crimes to thrive.
‘’It was also to engage stakeholders, security agencies, host communities, oil companies, regulators, and experts to proffer actionable solutions; and strengthen legal frameworks to ensure stricter penalties and more efficient prosecution of offenders”, he said.
Nwoko noted that Nigeria’s survival depended
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) has called on Nigerian companies to position themselves strategically to take full advantage of the growing opportunities in upcoming offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
The Managing Director, SNEPCO, Ronald Adams, made the call at the 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) Conference, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, last Thursday.
Adams highlighted the major projects, including Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North, and the Bonga Main Life Extension, as key areas where Nigerian businesses can grow their capacity and increase their involvement.
“Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) says Nigerian companies have a lot to benefit if they are prepared to take advantage of more opportunities in its offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
“Projects such as Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North and Bonga Main Life Extension could grow Nigerian businesses and improve their expertise if they applied themselves seriously to executing higher value contracts”, Adams stated.
Adams noted that SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deepwater oil exploration with the Bonga development and has since played a key role in growing local industry capacity.
He emphasized that Nigerian businesses could expand in key areas like logistics, drilling, and the construction of vital equipment such as subsea systems, mooring units, and gas processing facilities.
The SNEPCO boss explained that since production began at the Bonga field in 2005, SNEPCo has worked closely with Nigerian contractors to build systems and develop a skilled workforce capable of delivering projects safely, on time, and within budget both in Nigeria and across West Africa.
According to him, this long-term support has enabled local firms to take on key roles in managing the Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which reached a major milestone by producing its one-billion barrel of oil on February 3, 2023.
The Emohua Local Government Area Administrator, Franklin Ajinwo, has pledged to improve electricity distribution in Oduoha Ogbakiri and its environs.
Ajinwo made the pledge recently while playing host in a courtesy visit to the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, in his office in Rumuakunde.
He stated that arrangements are underway to enhance available power, reduce frequent outages, and promote steady electricity supply.
The move, he said, was aimed at boosting small and medium-scale businesses in the area.
“The essence of power is not just to have light at night. It’s for those who can use it to enhance their businesses”, he said.
The Administrator, who commended the peaceful nature of Ogbakiri people, urged the Chiefs to continue in promoting peace and stability, saying “meaningful development can only thrive in a peaceful environment”.
He also charged the Chiefs to protect existing infrastructure while promising to address the challenges faced by the community.
Earlier, the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, led by HRH Eze Goodluck Mekwa Eleni Ekenta XV, expressed gratitude to the Administrator over his appointment and pledged their support to his administration.
The chiefs highlighted challenges facing the community to include incessant power outage, need for new transformers, and the completion of Community Secondary School, Oduoha.
The visit underscored the community’s expectations from the LGA administration.
With Ajinwo’s assurance of enhancing electricity distribution and promoting development, the people of Oduoha Ogbakiri said they look forward to a brighter future.
By: King Onunwor