Nigerians celebrating the announcement of a two-month free electricity power supply as a result of the crisis over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) should better forget the proposition as the Federal Government has poured iced water on it, saying that it has yet to take a decision on provision of free electricity.
Minister of Power, Mr Saleh Mamman, said in a Tweet on Friday that “no decision has been taken by the Federal Government to provide Nigerians with free electricity for two months. If and when that becomes a reality, it shall be announced officially. Be rest assured that the Federal Government is exploring ways to ameliorate any hardship on Nigerians.”
Mr Mamman’s statement comes after power distribution companies said that the two-month free electricity which they announced on Wednesday would be paid for by the National Assembly and the Federal Government.
TheDiscos had announced on Wednesday that they were in support of the proposal by the National Assembly and the Federal Executive arm of government that Nigerians should get two months of free electricity.
Speaking through their umbrella body, the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, the Discos stated that modalities for the free electricity would be worked on and made public in due course.
The Discos, however, clarified on Thursday that electricity would be paid for by the Federal Government in partnership with the National Assembly.