DisCos Apologise to Nigerians Over Prolonged Blackouts, Call for Urgent Intervention

Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) have apologised to Nigerians over persistent power shortages across the country, acknowledging the hardship caused by weeks of prolonged blackouts.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Sunday Oduntan, offered the apology on Monday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

Oduntan acknowledged the difficulties Nigerians have faced in recent weeks, saying an apology was necessary given the impact of the electricity crisis on households and businesses.

ANED CEO Criticises Blame Game in Power Sector

Oduntan also criticised the renewed exchange of accusations among electricity sector operators, warning that the industry was returning to a pattern of blame that previously affected the sector between 2016 and 2019.

He recalled how distribution companies blamed transmission operators, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) blamed generation companies, while power generators pointed to inadequate gas supply and payment challenges.

According to him, the repeated accusations have not addressed the underlying problems responsible for poor electricity supply.

Oduntan Questions Conflicting Explanations

The ANED chief also questioned conflicting statements from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) over the causes of the power shortages.

He said NISO had identified low water levels and inadequate gas supply as contributing factors, while the NNPC subsequently issued a statement indicating that gas was available.

Oduntan argued that the NNPC should clarify whether outstanding payments were affecting gas deliveries to electricity generation companies, including details of gas supplied and payments made.

He urged the Minister of Power to take charge of the situation by bringing gas suppliers, transmission operators and other relevant stakeholders together to establish the actual causes of the crisis.

Prolonged Outages Deepen Public Frustration

The apology comes amid growing complaints from households and businesses struggling with inadequate electricity supply in recent weeks.

The situation has also raised concerns about the electricity tariff classification system, particularly the supply expectations attached to Band A customers, who are entitled to a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily.

Customers across different tariff categories have continued to report inadequate supply, while the hot weather has made prolonged outages more difficult to endure.

Public figures, including veteran actress Kate Henshaw and content creator Cute Abiola, have also criticised the situation and appealed for improvements.

Meanwhile, rising petrol and diesel prices have increased the cost of running generators, while solar panels, batteries and inverters remain financially out of reach for many households and small businesses.

Tinubu's Electricity Promise Under Renewed Scrutiny

The power crisis has renewed attention to President Bola Tinubu's campaign promise to improve electricity supply and end estimated billing.

During his 2023 presidential campaign, Tinubu told members of the Organised Private Sector in Lagos that Nigerians should hold him accountable if he failed to deliver reliable electricity and end estimated billing.

With prolonged blackouts continuing to affect homes and businesses, pressure is mounting on the Federal Government and electricity sector operators to address the problems behind the persistent supply shortages.

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