Nigerians react to handover of PHCN successor companies

Nigerians react to handover of PHCN
successor companies
on november 01, 2013 at 5:38 pm in news
Abuja – Nigerians have reacted to the handover of
16 successor companies to Power Holding
Company of Nigeria.
The Vice-President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, on Friday
handed over 11 power distribution and five
generation companies, created out of PHCN, to their
private owners on behalf of the Federal
Government.
While some consumers have expressed the hope of
getting improved energy supplies, others advised
former PHCN staff to manage their resources well.
In Gombe, .Mr Musa Ayiga, the Zonal Coordinator,
North-East and Central Executive Council member
of PHCN, advised disengaged workers of the
company to use their severance allowance
judiciously
Ayiga told the workers to invest part of the money
well and not to indulge in unnecessary spending to
ensure a better future.
He advised those who would be engaged by the new
companies to work hard, be dedicated to their duties
and to realise that it would not be business as
usual.
“Do not worry for losing the PHCN job, just take it
as an act of God and bear with the situation, nothing
will happen to you but you should know how to play
your game,” he said
In Osogbo, some electricity consumers expressed
the hope that the transfer of ownership of the
companies would improve electricity supply to
them.
Mr Tunde Oladeji, a teacher told the News Agency
of Nigeria that he hoped that “electricity supply will
improve’’.
Oladeji said that he initially doubted the successful
conclusion of the privatisation of the energy sector
based on past experience.
“But the realisation that privatising PHCN may result
in customers paying for the exact power consumed
is inspiring,” he said.
Mr Bisi Johnny of Idi-Seke, Osogbo, told NAN that
he was looking forward to a new power sector that
would be truly responsible to the people.
Johnny said that it was important for the new
owners of the companies to fashion out ways of
improving on power generation.
Mrs Folabomi Ibiwoye, a housewife, advised the
new investors to endeavour to win the confidence of
the people through stable power supply and
accurate billing.
‘’A situation whereby we pay for what we did not
consume is very bad,” Ibiwoye said.
She also advised the new owners not to increase
the suffering of Nigerians through ‘’suffocating
tariffs’’. (NAN)