February 24, 2024
Sahara Power Group, Managing Director, Kola Adesina, on Friday, February 23, bemoaned the loss of electricity to thefts, stressing it lost 40% of its power generation to a meter bypass.
He said that the group experiences a daily loss of approximately 40 percent of generated power due to energy theft and meter bypass.
Adesina disclosed in a presentation at the 4th Seminar for Judges organised by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) complex in Abuja.
The group also owns Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company Limited.
He lamented that the country’s value system is impacting negatively on the power space.
He said: “The value system is eroding everything common sensical and universal within the power space. I doubt if we will see light at the end of the tunnel if we continue with the current practice.”
According to him, the revenue assurance from the system is not sustainable, owing to the attitude of the Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDA).
The Sahara boss urged customers to pay their bills for the DisCo to improve on quality power delivery.
He warned that the attitude poses a challenge to the operation if it is not addressed.
“The revenue assurance is not sustainable and the MDAs are involved in this. I want to hope that people pay their electricity bills.
“Pay for our power as that is the only way we can improve on the quality of service. If we continue this way, we will have a big issue.
He called on the judiciary to assist the energy distributor in tackling the issues.
According to him, “We need the judiciary to help us in solving some of these problems. Judges have their cases but based on what you have heard today, I would like to indulge you to collaborate with us towards resolving the issues in the power sector.”
He called on the judges to have a competent bench that appreciates the electricity market.
Adesina said: “My lords, the support we are seeking is not that you give a ruling in our favour, the support that we are asking for is to have a competent bench that understands when you hear about capacity payment, availability payment, MYTO, why are the tariffs being reviewed; to understand these issues so there can be a clear, consistent and logical judicial precedent.
“That is what we are asking for and we believe that with engagements like this, we will continue to build our capacity.”
