BUSINESS In Kano, the rich get more electricity
Wealthy individuals in Kano are enjoying near stable power supply courtesy of the 33kv line that is popularly known as ‘blue line’ while the less privileged residents of the state are battling with near zero power supply according to Daily Trust findings.
Our correspondent reports that the 33kv line which is meant for industries in the state is being connected by wealthy individuals to their residences in order to enjoy near stable power supply.
The situation has further widened the gap between the rich and the poor in the state as those connected to the 33kv enjoy 17 hours power supply daily and those on the general 11kv hardly enjoy three hours power supply daily.
It was gathered that for a residential apartment to be connected to the blue line, the landlord pays between N100, 000 and N150, 000. After the connection, the landlord, like any other power users pays monthly bill to the power company.
Our correspondent gathered that the upsurge in the number of rich men connecting to the blue line has compounded the problem of power supply in the state as more power from the national grid allocated to the state is diverted to the blue line.
Daily Trust recalled that weeks ago, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states shared less than 100 mega watts daily, following the poor power generation from the national grid.
Worried by the trend, the management of Kano Electricity Distribution Company ( KEDCO) has embarked on massive disconnection of the blue line, last week, a situation that has generated mixed reactions among people of the state.
While those who are on the blue line are picking holes in the action of the KEDCO, the general consumers are rejoicing.
Speaking to our correspondent, a resident of UnguwarGezaareaofthestate, Fati Raji, described the trend as worrying.
She said: “The trend has further widened the gap between the poor and the rich. While we in our house are suffering and badly affected by the worsening power supply, our next door neighbour is always having power supply simply because he can afford to connect to the blue line. This is not fair.”
Butwhilesheislamenting,a salonoperatorinGidanBuhari decried the disconnection of theblueline,sayinghisbusiness relied majorly on it.
He asked: “Don’t mind those people that are happy over the disconnection of the blue line. Here in my shop I’m using blue line because of my business but at home I’m on the general line, but now they have disconnected it. How do you expect me to survive on generator set?
A cross section of residents of Kano highbrow areas who were the major beneficiaries of the blue line, expressed their displeasure with the disconnection.
A resident of Nasarawa GRA, Dawud Khalid, lambasted those calling for the disconnection of the blue line, saying: “I think it is wrong for the KEDCO to deny access to the blue line for those it perceived as wealthy or rich individuals. Instead, it would be wise to make electricity available to all regardless of whether they are rich or poor, or whether they use blue lines or not.
“This is because electricity is needed by all residents in order to secure their premises, especially at these times of insecurity. Even governmental agencies use blue line, are they goingtobedisconnected,too?”
But, despite the protestations, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of KEDCO Dr. Jamil Gwamna has directed BusinessManagersoftheutility company to disconnect all the residential areas connected to the blue line.
He noted that supplying residential customers via the 33 KV line has violated the distribution standards of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, while the practice has created an avenue for some individuals to make illegal money from the cost of connecting others as well as from the collection of what was called ‘maintenance fee’ on a monthly basis.
He said as a consequence of this, the company suffered colossal losses, running into several millions of Naira in March.
He said no serious and responsible utility company can condone such brazen corruptionevenasthescenario created social tensions among the communities in Kano metropolis.
He directed that all disconnected residential customers should be reconnected on 11KV line as was the case before now.
Gwamna said: “The disconnection exercise has started in earnest while the company has rebuffed all attempts by some influential interest groups to dissuade it from actualising its policy. Feelers from the general public haveindicatedthattheimageof the company has registered a revamp.”