Economy

FCCPC Makes Fact-Finding Mission to Markets in Osun

By Web News 420

By Mojisola Oladele

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, visited some major markets in Osun State on a fact-finding mission to ascertain the factors responsible for the hike in food prices.

Radio Nigeria correspondent reports that the officials of the Commission visited Olufi Market in Ayedaade Local Government and Ifon Market in Orolu Local Government areas of the state.

The FCCPC South-West Zonal Coordinator, Mrs Janet Odo said the visit was to interact with traders’ associations and marketers to ascertain the factors responsible for the continuous hike in food prices in the country.

Mrs. Odo said the commission’s surveillance findings revealed that wholesalers and retailers were allegedly engaging in conspiracy, price gouging, hoarding, and distorting competition in markets across the nation.

She stressed that the visit was to verify the allegations and also sensitize traders on fair market prices.

Mrs. Odo said the FCCPC officials were able to interact with traders, consumers, and those in supply chains to determine the main cause of the hike in food prices.

She emphasized that the commission’s priority remains to unlock the markets and address key consumer protection and competition issues affecting the prices of commodities in the food sector.

“The whole essence is to ensure that the competition and consumers’ protection aspect of our mandate is being executed to ensure that consumers get fair pricing of food commodities.”

“We have been able to gather some facts in the two markets visited, and it will be collated, reviewed, and used as a point of advising the Federal Government.”

In separate interviews ,the leader of the market women association at Olufi Market, Mrs. Bukola Ogunyinka and the leader, market men association in Ifon Market, Mr Muniru Adeyeye, who explained that the hike in food prices was not the fault of the traders, claimed that the removal of the fuel subsidy led to increase in prices of food items.

“We are not the ones inflating the prices of food items. The removal of fuel subsidy, which is reflected in the cost of transportation, is responsible for this.” Mr. Muniru Adeyeye

Also a student, Mary Adetoye, who was in the market to buy food items, said the prices of the food items was getting out of the reach of the poor and appealed to the government to urgently intervene in the situation.

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Energy

We’ll sanction any DisCo that fails to comply with extant rules – FCCPC

By Web News 591

By Olawale Asake

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, says it will not fail to sanction any Electricity Distribution Company, DisCo, that fails to comply with extant rules and regulations in the power sector.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CEO,  of the Commission, Mr Babatunde Irukera, stated this at the Electricity Consumer Complaint Resolution Platform organised by the Commission in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Mr  Irukera said that non-compliance of some DisCos with the regulations of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, was a bane in the industry, urging the consumers to ensure support the commission towards repositioning the sector.

Mr. Irukera who mentioned some of the complaints from the consumers to include, overbilling, metering, transformer issues, illegal disconnections and poor consumer service delivery, advised the Public not to take laws into their hands while dealing with members of staff of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC in the face of any challenge.

In a remark, Head, Customers Support, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, Mr. Ayoola Adio called on the consumers of the company not to engage in corrupt sharp practices capable of shortchanging the company, describing the step as a great loss to the company on monthly basis.

He disclosed that IBEDC was losing over Three Billion Naira monthly due to corrupt practices of some consumers in connivance with the staff of the company.

Mr. Adio assured customers that the company would resolve all electricity-related complaints, soliciting their support to serve them better

 Speaking, a representative of Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency, NEMSA, Engineer Umar said that technical safety was key in the electricity industry.

He advised electricity consumers to avoid meters without NEMSA seal or logo, emphasising that those without seal or Logo were not certified by the Agency.

”It is important for consumers to know that before meters are being deployed to them, they must be tested and certified good for use by NEMSA and we will put our seal or logo on the meters.”

”The case of sagged conductors or electricity lines over a rooftop, transformers open or electricity poles that are about to collapse, should be urgently reported to appropriate authorities so that prompt actions can be taken.”

Some of the Consumers at the programme who commended the Commission for organizing the forum urged IBEDC to find lasting solutions to the electricity challenges facing the public

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Power

Buying Transformers, Poles, Not Responsibility Of Electricity Consumers- FCCPC

By Web News 1098

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has declared that it is not the responsibility of electricity consumers/customers or communities to buy, replace or repair transformers, poles, cables and related items used in the power supply.

The disclosure was made on Wednesday in Benin, the Edo State capital by FCCPC’s Executive Commissioner, Operations, Dr Adamu Abdullahi, in his remarks at the opening of the commission’s four-day electricity consumers’ complaints’ resolution platform, which was sponsored by MacArthur Foundation and attended by many consumers.

Abdullahi stated that there were many issues in electricity consumption in Nigeria while condemning disconnection of consumers’ lines without notice, outrageous/crazy bills, non-supply of paid-for meters and disregard for regulations, among other complaints by electricity consumers in the country.

He said, “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), an independent regulatory body, has the authority to regulate the electric power industry in the country, while FCCPC is to protect consumers throughout Nigeria.

“Electricity consumers in Nigeria have the right to properly-installed and functional meters. Payment for meters shall not be made if meters are not available. The Meter Asset Provider (MAP) shall install the meters at the premises of the customers within ten working days of payment.

“Unmetered customers shall not experience any cost increase, beyond what is chargeable to metered customers in the same area. Customers have the right to contest bills and withhold payment of disputed bills.”

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mrs Funke Osibodu, in her goodwill message, insisted that officials of the company were trying their best to make their customers in the franchise states of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti happy, thereby quickly resolving issues.

Osibodu, who was represented by BEDC’s Chief State Head for Edo, Mr Abel Enechaziam, stated that she was aware of limited power supply and inadequate metering, which he said should not be blamed on the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), stressing that BEDC was always ready to listen to the consumers’ complaints, with quick actions being taken.

BEDC’s managing director also stressed that there was an inadequate supply of meters by NERC while pointing out that DisCos across Nigeria were facing challenges from the generation and transmission of power, which she expressed optimism that NERC would soon be able to resolve.

A top official of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Mr Akinbadejo Akinleye, while also speaking, noted that the agency’s officers were always striving to ensure the maintenance of quality in electricity management in the country.

One of the displeased consumers of BEDC, Daniel Ikhanaede, lamented having about four days of electricity supply in a month, in a small residential apartment in Benin, only to receive an outrageous bill of over N200,000.

Peter Asekhaino, a lawyer, who is the Legal Adviser to Hotel Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Edo State chapter, revealed that he earlier wrote over forty complaint letters, on behalf of his clients, to BEDC’s head office in Benin, without response, while tendering photocopies of the no replied letters, particularly on overbilling, wondering why a hotel’s monthly bill would suddenly jump from N900,000 to over N6 million.

While also speaking, an aggrieved elderly customer, Pa Vincent Igbinosu, lamented the irregular supply of electricity to his house in the Edo State capital, while monthly receiving crazy bills, which he said should be looked into.

Punch/Adewumi Faniran

 

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