Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has urged stakeholders in the electricity sector to confront the issue of estimated billing, emphasizing the need to alleviate the burden on electricity consumers. Participating in a Business Roundtable on the Light-Up Nigeria Project for the Southeast region, alongside fellow Southeast governors, Governor Nwifuru emphasized the dubious nature of estimated billings, underscoring the hardships they impose on consumers.
According to BusinessDay, the Business Roundtable was convened by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria (NDPHCN) to strategize sustainable solutions to the persistent power deficit in the region and across Nigeria.
Addressing the event, attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, distinguished statesmen, and industry leaders, Governor Nwifuru highlighted the injustice of expecting consumers to pay for services they haven’t utilized due to billing estimation. He advocated for universal metering of electricity consumers as a fundamental step towards fairness and efficiency in billing practices.
Vice President Kashim Shettima pledged the commitment of the Bola Tinubu administration to significantly enhance electricity supply, particularly in the Southeast region. He affirmed the administration’s dedication to maintaining and augmenting the existing electricity provision in the Southeast, emphasizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goodwill toward the region.
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State expressed optimism about the potential outcomes of the roundtable, envisioning a transformative shift in the power sector within the Southeast. He asserted the pivotal role of reliable power supply in fostering overall socioeconomic development.
Meanwhile, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu urged Southeast leaders to devise strategies to combat vandalism of electricity infrastructure, warning of the grave consequences of grid collapse in the region.
