Dr. Elijah Adakole, the Head of Corporate Communications at the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), has highlighted that the persistent failures of the national power grid are significantly undermining the revenue generation of Distribution Companies (DISCOs).
In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Jos, Adakole explained that many customers of JEDC utilize the prepaid metering system, which requires payment solely for the energy consumed. Consequently, the lack of available power for distribution inevitably leads to zero revenue collection, resulting in substantial financial losses.
Adakole emphasized that the ongoing grid collapses also have a detrimental effect on the economy, as numerous businesses rely on electricity at both macro and micro levels. He urged the Federal Government to explore sustainable solutions to address this critical issue.
Civil society activist Mr. Steve Aluko expressed that the continual grid failures should be a pressing concern due to their severe repercussions on the nation’s economy and the welfare of its citizens.
Mr. Samson Benson, a welder, conveyed that the absence of electricity supply is severely hindering his business operations. He voiced his concerns about not making a profit and the risk of losing clients due to his inability to fulfill orders on time because of power outages.
“Most of the profits I could have earned have been spent on purchasing diesel to operate my generator, yet even then, I have been unable to deliver my clients’ items as scheduled due to the lack of electricity,” he stated. Benson appealed to the government for effective solutions to the ongoing grid failures, emphasizing that many businesses depend heavily on a stable power supply.
In a similar vein, Mrs. Alice Dung, a salon owner, noted that the lack of power supply is adversely affecting her business, preventing her from providing the full range of services her clients expect. (NAN)
