..Ask NERC, DISCOs To Reverse Band A Tariff Hike
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed pending the conclusion of the investigation of his comments regarding the status of Dangote refined petroleum products.
The call comes after the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Esosa Iyawe following the House’s address of the impasse between Dangote Refinery and the Authority.
According to Iyawe, the fuel quality can impact engine hardware, thus ultra-low sulfur diesel is recommended for all types of companies, power plants, storage tanks, industrial facilities, fleets and heavy equipment, and even ships, as high Sulphur content in fuels, causes damage to engines and contributes to air pollution.
The Edo lawmaker said sulphur dioxide also has dire environmental and health consequences, as it can damage the human respiratory system, compromise lung function and even cause cancer.
“The unguarded statements by the Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, which has since been disproved, sparked an outrage from Nigerians who tagged his undermining of local refineries and insistence on the continued importation of fuel an act of economic sabotage, as the imported products have been shown to contain high levels of dangerous compounds.”
This comes after the House Committee on Midstream and Downstream on Monday commenced an investigation into the dispute between Ahmed and the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.
Salient Times recalls that in the past four days, Ahmed’s statement that Dangote Refinery’s petroleum products were inferior had sparked a wide range of allegations and counter-allegations from both parties.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Petroleum Resources(Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri on Monday moved to resolve the crisis between NMDPRA and Dangote Refinery.
Reps Ask NERC, DISCOs To Reverse Band A Tariff Hike
In another development, the House of Representatives on Tuesday asked the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the distribution companies, DISCOs, to reverse the tariff hike for Band A customers immediately.
This resolution was reached after the adoption of a report presented by the House Committee on Power.
Chairman of the Committee Victor Nwokolo who presented the report, stated that Nigerians cannot afford the new tariff.
The Committee recommended a return to the status quo.
The recommendations were adopted by the Committee of the Whole, after which it was passed.
Further investigation into the tariff hike is to be conducted by the House.
Tariff Hike For Band A Customers
The NERC in April announced a hike affecting Band A customers, who are to pay N225 per kilowatt.
According to the regulatory commission Band A subscribers would have at least 20 hours of power supply per day
It also explained that only electricity customers in Band A would be affected by the increase.
At the time, it said only 15 per cent of the electricity consumers were affected by the hike, however, the decision generated negative reactions since its announcement.
“We currently have 800 feeders that are categorised as Band A, but it will now be reduced to under 500. This means that 17 per cent now qualify as Band-A feeders. These feeders only service 15 per cent of total electricity customers connected to the feeders,” NERC Vice Chairman, Musliu Oseni said on April 3.
“The commission has issued an order which is titled April supplementary order and the commission allows a 235 kilowatt per hour.”
