*Says it’s their responsibility to provide such within areas of coverage
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu on Monday, warned the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and electricity distribution companies to stop compelling communities to purchase transformers, cables and poles.
Handling down the warning in Ibadan while addressing IBEDC Management during his working visit to Ibadan, the Minister said it is the responsibility of the electricity distribution companies to provide transformers, poles and cables to communities within their areas of coverage.
Chief Adelabu declared that President Bola Tinubu frowns at the situation where communities would be forced to purchase transformers poles and cables by electricity distribution companies.
The Minister maintained that the President Tinubu led administration will not tolerate a situation where communities will be forced to purchase such items by themselves.
” We don’t want to hear news of communities buying transformers, cables and poles for themselves again. The federal government frowns at it. You see what we have done in Kaduna. Service to our people is paramount. It is the responsibility that Mr. President has placed on us. You are not number one, two or three, you are struggling to be number four on the rating”, he said
Chief Adelabu added ” it is the responsibility of the distribution companies to provide transformers, cables and poles to communities so that power supply can improve”.
” A situation where communities buy transformers, cables and poles must stop. I know that you have these centers but how effective are they to ensure that customer complaints are attended to. As a minister, I don’t want to hear news of communities being asked to purchase electric transformers, cables and poles”,
Chief Adelabu stressed, ” If the consumers are paying for the electricity, then it is the responsibility of the distribution companies to provide these items.
There must be improvement in power supply”.
He noted further, “That is what the government planned to do. People should not pay for darkness. When people have a 24-hour power supply, they can pay double for electricity because you have saved them the money to power generators”.
