Nigeria has no business with energy poverty — Minister
By Matthew Denis, Abuja
The Minister of State Gas Resources, Ekperikpe Ekpo has emphasised that Nigeria has no business with Gas poverty.
The Minister made the disclosure while delivering his speech at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) held in Abuja on Thursday.
He said, “Today we’re talking about gas which is the direction to flow and I believe with the faces I’m seeing today you will really articulate what we need to move the gas sector forward.
“Nigeria has no business with energy poverty and if you’re to verify it you will see that it’s the truth. So I called on all the stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to the session.”
The Minister stressed that the global call for energy transition is a wake up call for Nigeria as a nation with abundant resources that we’ll raise up to take our position in energy and develop the sector where it’s supposed to be.
“When we’re able to meet the local demands as well as exports for revenue generation we need the country. I believe we have competent people that are manning the sector.”
Mr. Ekpo appealed to all the critical stakeholders to collaborate together with the government to fix the gas industry and take Nigeria to greater heights for generations to come.
“We are always on ground 24/7 to sort your problems. We will ensure that whoever is not doing the right things is made to do what is right,” he added.
“We thank our colleagues in the process of resolving these issues, the NERC, NEMSA, and the DISCOs themselves for finding time to come here.
“We give you the reassurances that we will do whatever that is within our power to resolve your issues and whatever that is not resolved please report to us.
“We are here for customers, so feel free to let us know your problems, and we will resolve them,” he emphasised.
In his remarks, Area Inspecting Engineer, Ikeja Network, NEMSA, Mr Salami Afeez assured FCCPC of the agency’s continued collaboration with the commission in delivering on its mandate as a technical enforcement agency for the energy sector.
Salami also said the agency had alway and would continue to go round Ikeja Disco’s network to monitor the defects in its network.
“As consumers, if you see any threatening points in this network, please do not hesitate to call us.”
Also, NERC representative, Mr Chukwunonso Okwuosah commended FCCPC for putting the customers’ complaints forum together.
“We are constantly appealing that customers should come with an open mind and understand that Ikeja Electric will act as guided by the regulation.”
A representative of Ikeja Electric, Mrs Jolaoluwa Adewale, also thanked customers for their patience and cooperation.
She applauded FCCPC for arranging the forum that brings stakeholders closer to our customers.
“We have noted your complaints and feedback and will continue to work hard to resolve them.
“What you have today is our commitment and resolve to ensure that we will continue to be fair to our customers and also align and cooperate with the laws of the land.
“One of things I would like to encourage our customers is with the issue of accountability and collaborating with us when it comes to energy theft. that is becoming more and more rampant in our society.
“This is by ensuring that those in your communities that steal energy are held accountable,” he said.
One of the customers, Mr Anthony Iteghete, said, “We are very happy and pleased to see this kind of forum.
“We wish it would go around the nation, so that we can have time to ask them some questions and tell them our needs.
“I am here because I paid for meter since August 2023 and I have not seen it.
“I sleep without light. I want you to address this because IKEDC said that they have no meter. But, they are having my money,” he said.
Mr Samuel Ogidan, a customer, also said, “We have been paying close to N1.5 million every month and all of a sudden they jack it up by about 100 percent. They keep changing every three months in order to meet their own target.
“We have been asking them what their target has to do with our own billing? They blocked us from having a meter, a pre-paid meter, and from moving on with our business.
“They do not want us to have access to a prepaid meter. The FCCPC is handling it at the moment. Initially, we are at the court, but the court asks us to settle amicably,” he said.
