Electricity consumers in Osogbo express optimism over power privatisation

Electricity consumers in Osogbo on Friday expressed optimism that the final handing over of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to private investors would bring a positive change.

Mr Tunde Oladeji, a secondary school teacher in Osogbo said he was hopeful that 'electricity supply will improve''.

Oladeji admitted that he was initially cynical of the privatisation process because of previous experience which had failed to produce result.

'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 PHCN that would be truly responsible to the people.

He said: 'We have been made to understand that many workers of the government owned PHCN may be returned, I just hope that they will not corrupt the new system''.

Johnny said that it was important for the new owners to fashion out means of improving on power generation.

Mrs Folabomi Ibiwoye, a house wife, 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 tariff''.

At the Osogbo district office of the PHCN, it was discovered that workers resumed normally.

A management staff said on the condition of anonymity that the handover ceremony for the region would take place in Ibadan on Friday.

On Sept. 30, the government did a shadow hand over of the assets to the core investors as it presented certificates of ownership to buyers of the PHCN generating companies (Gencos) and distribution companies (Discos).