The spokesman of the power distributors, Sunday Oduntan, highlighted the issue of electricity theft, emphasizing that it is not only prevalent among ordinary Nigerians but also among wealthy individuals across the country. He noted that many rich Nigerians bypass metering devices and steal electricity, contributing to the illiquidity in the power sector.
Oduntan emphasized that electricity should be treated as a product that needs to be paid for, rather than a social service provided free of charge. He stated that recovering costs is a significant challenge for the Discos due to rampant electricity theft, which occurs every minute in various parts of the country.
Addressing the issue of infrastructure challenges, Oduntan called for a holistic approach to solving the problems in the power sector without attaching emotions. He acknowledged that the operators have not served conscientious Nigerians well in the past decade and apologized for the poor supply.
Oduntan also criticized the government for not keeping its part of the bargain in agreements with the power distributors, stressing the importance of respecting the sanctity of contracts to maintain investor confidence.
In conclusion, Oduntan advocated for a structural integrity test and reworking of the foundation of the power sector to address the challenges it faces, including electricity theft and infrastructure deficiencies. He urged stakeholders to understand the complexities of the issues involved rather than resorting to blaming and finger-pointing.
