Nigerians Spend S145 Billion On Generators,Fuel Yearly.

The senator representing Niger south Senatorial District, Senator Bima Muhammad Enagi Representing APC, Niger South
On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, introduced a bill to regulate the use of generators in the country.

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The Bill which passed its first reading on the floor of the senate is entitled: “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit/Regulate the Importation/ Use of Generating Sets to Curb the Menace of Environmental (Air) Pollution and to facilitate the Development of the Power Sector”.

The Bill provides that anyone who “knowingly” sells generators in Nigeria should be jailed for 10 years. It commands “all persons to stop the use of electricity generating sets which run on diesel/petrol/kerosene of all capacities with immediate effect”

Here’s what the bill looks like in summary…

The bill is titled: A BILL FOR AN ACT TO PROHIBIT/REGULATE THE IMPORTATION/USE OF GENERATING SETS TO CURB THE MENACE OF ENVIRONMENTAL (AIR) POLLUTION AND TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POWER SECTOR.

Sponsor: Senator Bima, Muhammad Enagi (Niger South Senatorial District).

ENACTED By the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Enagi’s bill seeks for the:

Prohibition/Regulate the importation of generating sets.
Any person who:

a) Imports generating sets; or

(b) Knowingly sells generating sets, shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than ten years.

Provided that this subsection shall not apply to the importation or sale of any generating set to be used for essential services.

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Ban Excludes Essential services.
(3) The ban/prohibition of generating sets shall not include generating sets used for essential services which include:

(i) Medical purposes (hospitals and nursing homes and healthcare facilities), (ii) Airports,

(iii) Railway stations/services,

(iv) Elevators (lifts),

(v) Escalators,

(vi) Research Institutions, and

(-vii) Such facilities that require 24 hours electric power supply:

(b) Approval for exclusion shall be obtained from the Minister in charge of Power which shall brief the Federal Executive Council quarterly on approvals granted.

Ban on Use
All persons are hereby directed to stop the use of electricity generating sets which run on diesel/petroI/kerosene of all capacities with immediate effect in the country.

Meaning of Generating Sets
In this “Bill” generating set (Generator) means a machine that is used for producing electricity.

Explanatory Memorandum

This Bill seeks to ban the importation and use of generating sets (generators) in the country and to curb the menace of environmental pollution which leads to potential health hazards it poses to the whole nation. (Outlook Media).