The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday, summoned a meeting with stakeholders in the power sector over the poor power supply during the lockdown.
Gbajabiamila expressed dismay over the barrage of calls and messages from many Nigerians through his social media account, reacting to the protest video and calling for prompt action.
His reaction followed a protest by a Nollywood actress, Ada Ameh, about the lack of power supply in most Nigerian homes.
“After Madam Ameh’s viral video, I held a meeting with the Minister of Power, NERC and other stakeholders today on the need to ensure stable electricity at least during the lockdown period. At the end of the discussion, Gas companies who are being owed money agreed to release gas, ” he wrote on Twitter.
He attached a video of the meeting to the post.
In the video shared, he said: “It has become imperative that I urgently call for this meeting to find a solution to the poor supply of electricity during this lockdown period.
‘’If we ask people to stay at home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, at least we have to make their homes comfortable for them to stay.
“The complaints have just been too much in the last 24 hours. There are people also in the hospital now without electricity; we need to brainstorm over an urgent solution.”
Also speaking, the Minister of Power, Mamman tabled the challenges faced by power generating companies, GENCOs, appealing for possible intervention of the leadership of the House.
“We are aware of the challenges faced by Nigerians, so we have started talking to GENCOs, because they have been complaining that Discos are not paying and only about 20% of their dues are remitted.
“So, the GENCOs are facing technical and revenue shortfall. Consequently, they can’t as well meet their financial obligations to gas companies.”
