Group Urges PHCN Privatisation Review

A non-governmental organization, the South South Youth Consultative, Enlightenment and Mobilisation Council  (SSYCEMOC) says  only a review of the privatisation process of the Defunct Power Holding  Company of Nigeria (PHCN) would save the nation from poor power supply.
National Director of Publicity, SSYCEMOC, Comrade Chris Nnodim, who stated this  during an interview with The Tide last Friday,  said the private investors that bought over the PHCN have  not proved that they have the capacity to meet the needs of the people.
Nnodim said: “Four years after that privatization, we are yet to see  improved  power supply, we are yet to  see improved infrastructure,  so what has  satisfied the privatization exercise. I think that exercise should be reviewed.”
He noted that the development of the  nation depends on local industries and called on the Federal Government to make  policies that can drive local economy  through small scale industries.
The Publicity  Director regretted that instead of bringing in more investors, the poor power situation is scaring them off and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to cast  another  look at the PHCN Privatisation.
He equally blamed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for not protecting the interest of the poor masses who are forced to pay for services not rendered by the electricity distribution companies across the nation.
“In other countries, there is stability in power supply and the process of billing is scientific  such that you as a consumer can control and predict your charge. But here, you pay whatever the distribution  company  asks you to pay irrespective of the level of services rendered to you”,  he said.
He challenge  NERC to justify its existence by making sure that there is standard stressing that one sure  way of maintaining standard was by ensuring that consumers were metered across the nation.
Nnodim called on Federal Government to withdraw licence from any of the DISCOs that lacks the capacity to meet standards in the interest of Nigeria and local industries.

Chris Oluoh