By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki
Following the challenges of epileptic power supply facing South East of Nigeria, governors have warned against estimated billing and epileptic power supply in the zone, stating that it has devastating effect on the economy.
Francis Nwifuru, Governor of Ebonyi State was among governors of Igbo extraction who graced a business roundtable on Light Up Nigeria Project for South East, aimed at arriving at sustainable solution to perennial power shortfall held in Enugu, Enugu State on Monday February 26, 2024.
Speaking at the event attended by Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, elder statesmen and captains of industries from South East, Governor Francis Nwifuru called on electricity stakeholders to address issues of estimated billing to encourage subscribers continue paying for power.
“How can you expect people to pay electricity bills when billing is still by estimation, where people are made to pay exorbitantly most times for power they did not consume, so let us start there to ensure metering of all electricity consumers, before taking the drive to another level.” He said.
Earlier, Vice-President Kashim Shettima assured that the Presidency of Bola Ahmed Tinubu would leave no stone unturned to ensure massive turnaround in electricity supply to the country and South East region in particular.
“We cannot afford to cut off South East from electricity supply, the little they get must be sustained and even jerked up, so be rest assured that, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for the South East people.”
The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah expressed hope that the outcome of the roundtable would help address power challenges in the zone.
“Today we are flagging off what is in my view a new dawn in the power sector in the South East.
“If we fix power, every other sector would have fallen in place.” He said.
The Minister of Power, Adelabu Adebayo called on leaders of South East to devise means of checkmating vandalism of electricity infrastructure in order to forestall grid collapse in the area.
Governor Francis Nwifuru was also among leaders of the zone who welcomed the Vice-President on arrival at the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu.
Governor Nwifuru was joined by governors of Enugu, Peter Mbah, Anambra, Charles Soludo, Imo, Hope Uzodinma, former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim among other dignitaries at the business roundtable.
It would be recalled that the business roundtable was at the instance of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria (NDPHCN).
