Electricity Distribution Companies, DisCos. have appealed to Nigerians for understanding over the persistent power outages that have left homes and businesses struggling with inadequate electricity for several weeks.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, ANED, Sunday Oduntan, made the appeal on Monday while featuring on Channels Television's Sunrise Daily.
“I’d like to first of all start by apologising to Nigerians. An apology is needed; it is essential because Nigerians have been taken through this problem over the past few weeks,” he said.
Oduntan expressed displeasure over the growing disagreements among players in the electricity industry, arguing that the return of mutual accusations could make the situation more difficult to resolve.
He noted that the sector experienced a similar pattern between 2016 and 2019, when operators repeatedly traded accusations over the failure to provide stable electricity.
According to him, the distribution companies, Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, generation companies and gas suppliers must stop shifting responsibility and work towards finding lasting solutions.
“Our major problem is that we have started down that very wrong route that we went through between 2016 and 2019. What is that? Blame game.
“Part of what happened at that time is that people will blame the DisCos, DisCos will blame TCN, TCN will blame GenCos, GenCos will blame the gas suppliers, and gas suppliers will blame payment issues. We have returned to that, and I think there is a need to arrest that,” he said.
The ANED boss also raised questions over the explanations offered by the Nigerian Independent System Operator, NISO, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC, regarding the factors responsible for the drop in electricity supply.
He said NISO had pointed to insufficient gas supply and reduced water levels as contributing factors, but noted that the NNPC later released a statement suggesting that gas was available.
Oduntan argued that the NNPC needed to provide further clarification on whether unpaid bills were affecting the delivery of gas to electricity generation companies.
“From the NNPC statement, it is very clear that they came to tell us half-truths. What I would have expected NNPC to do is to go ahead and tell us whether there are payment issues. We need to know whether gas was paid for and delivered, who did, who didn’t,” he said.
He further called on the Minister of Power to intervene in the dispute by bringing the relevant agencies and operators together to establish the facts behind the supply crisis.
“This back-and-forth blame game between gas suppliers, NNPC and, of course, TCN or NISO, I think the Minister of Power needs to take charge. There is a need for this leadership because, at the end of the day, they need to call them together,” he said.
The development comes as Nigerians continue to complain about the impact of unreliable electricity on their daily activities, with businesses facing additional operating expenses and households battling prolonged outages.
The complaints have also extended to customers under Band A, whose tariff category carries an electricity supply obligation of at least 20 hours daily.
Despite the higher charges associated with the category, some customers have continued to report supply shortfalls.
The situation has heightened the difficulties faced by residents amid soaring temperatures, with many unable to depend on electricity to power cooling appliances.
For households relying on generators, the increasing cost of petrol and diesel has added to the burden, while the high prices of solar equipment, batteries and inverters have limited access to alternative sources of electricity.
The crisis has equally drawn reactions from celebrities and other public figures.
Veteran actress Kate Henshaw recently criticised the state of electricity supply, saying Nigerians had been forced to turn their homes into “mini-factories” by constantly generating their own power.
Content creator, Cute Abiola also called on President Bola Tinubu to address the situation, highlighting the difficulties caused by the heat and unreliable electricity.
Meanwhile, the worsening power situation has brought renewed attention to Tinubu's campaign pledge ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
The President had promised to ensure improved electricity supply and abolish estimated billing while addressing members of the Organised Private Sector in Lagos.
“Whichever way, by all means necessary, you will have electricity, and you will not pay for estimated bills anymore. A promise made will be a promise kept. If I don’t keep the promise and I come for a second term, don’t vote for me, unless I give you adequate reasons why I couldn’t deliver,” he said.