SERAP asks Buhari to probe investment in power

 

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has decried poor electricity in the country and asked the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to probe the estimated investment of $30bn in the electricity sector for the past 15 years.

SERAP, in a statement by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, on Tuesday, berated President Goodluck Jonathan for not implementing the recommendation of the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty, human rights and adequate housing sent to the government in November 2013.

SERAP said, “The investment of over $30 billion in the electricity sector in the past 15 years has brought nothing but darkness to millions of Nigerians. The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, should, as a matter of priority, probe where the $30 billion has gone and work with the UN mechanisms to ensure the full and effective implementation of their recommendations.

“Till date, the government has not responded to the eight crucial questions raised by the UN on the unfair and discriminatory electricity tariff and the pervasive level of corruption in the electricity sector. The unfortunate result is that Nigerians are made to pay for ‘electricity’ they don’t enjoy.”

The human rights group said a letter of concern the UN officials sent to President Goodluck Jonathan in which it expressed concerns that “access to electricity is a significant problem in Nigeria, and raised eight questions for the government to answer within 60 days was not acknowledged.”

The statement read, “The UN rapporteurs also said that, ‘Less than 50 per cent of registered electricity customers have access to electricity meters, and ongoing inaccuracies in measuring electricity usage will continue to hinder fair electricity access and exchange.’”

“They wanted answers to the alleged ‘mismanagement in the privatisation process, and over $3bn that has been mismanaged annually over the last ten years that has not been properly accounted for. The business units which have taken over from the PHCN participate in large-scale corruption such as graft from exorbitant consumer bills, rejection of payment to independent third parties such as banks to keep management of funds secret, unprecedented disconnection of consumers’ power lines, general bribery and fraud amongst staff, adding up to over N1bn extra charged to consumers annually.”