The Federal Government has ordered power distribution companies (DisCos) to fix weak distribution networks in their franchise areas within seven days.
Managing Director and Chief Electrical Inspector, Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Tukur Aliyu, disclosed this to journalists at the 2024 Customer Service Week in Abuja.
He said the latest order comes after an earlier two-month notice issued to the Discos to implement the necessary changes.
Aliyu further explained that following the discovery that most of the distribution networks were old and weak, the DisCos were directed to do the necessary upgrade to ensure the safe distribution of electricity in the country.
He recalled an electrocution incident in Calabar, after NEMSA had ordered Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company to upgrade some of its network in the Cross River State capital.
The Managing Director, however, regretted that the jobs done by the utility were unsatisfactory after two inspection visits.
“We were there (Calabar) two times to ensure that what we asked them to do was done but we were surprised that they had not done it and so we issued an enforcement notice to them. But when we looked at the networks generally, we also discovered similar networks across the country.
“So, we went to the drawing board and issued enforcement directives to the entire utility companies in the country. They were given two months to make sure that all those areas that were mentioned in the directives were effectively carried out,” he stated.
Continuing, Aliyu said: “The two-month deadline is ending next week and our officers are already on the ground and will swing into action to monitor those places and get back to us at the headquarters.”
He said the objective of the celebration of the customer service week is to celebrate teamwork and service of all staff and to ensure that its services and support go above and beyond for customers, “which means that our service processes and delivery should transcend our normal mode of carrying out our functions”.
He also called on electricity consumers to patronise certified electricians when carrying out installations on their property, adding that this will enable them to be tracked when there are any safety issues related to their work.
