‘DisCos Exploiting Osun Residents Through Fraudulent Band System’ – Urban Alert
A civic organisation, Urban Alert, has accused electricity distribution companies (DisCos) of exploiting consumers through the newly introduced Band System, which it described as fraudulent and unjust.
Speaking during Osun Defender’s weekly Twitter Space on Friday, Team Lead of Urban Alert, Anthony Adejuwon, lamented that the Band System has only worsened the plight of electricity consumers in Osun State, as many residents continue to pay for services they do not receive.
Adejuwon criticised the Federal Government for failing to address the loopholes in the electricity sector, noting that while efforts are being made to secure funds for DisCos, there is no accountability for the failure to provide the promised supply.
“If customers are charged ₦20 per kilowatt-hour because they are in Band A, but at the end of the day, they do not receive the power meant for Band A, what are the consequences for DisCos that collected the money but failed to deliver?” he questioned.
He further argued that the Band System has done nothing to improve electricity supply but has instead become a scheme for revenue generation at the expense of consumers, leading to frustration and hardship among residents.
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Adejuwon called on the Osun State Government to establish a State Electricity Market and Regulatory Agency to oversee electricity distribution and ensure that DisCos are held accountable for their actions.
“It is time for state governments to take responsibility. If they fail to act, citizens will continue to suffer. The current system only enriches DisCos and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) while leaving the people in darkness,” he stated.
He urged the state government to put competent individuals in charge of regulating electricity distribution, stressing that DisCos should only profit from services they genuinely render.
“No one is saying DisCos and the transmission company should not make money, but they must earn it legitimately by providing the service they charge for. Anything short of that is pure exploitation,” he concluded.
Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.
