By Greg Ejiofor, reporting from Benin.
An Opinion Poll hastily conducted over the last One Month has unequivocally identified the aloofness and indifferent attitude displayed by the National Assembly members as the key reason for the continuous epileptic power supply experienced in the country. The poll also identified inadequate financial flow to the Ministry of Power as another key factor. The poll conducted by an Abuja-based Research Company emphatically calls for scrapping of the National Assembly if the trend cannot be reversed within this legislative year. This opinion was arrived at after administering questionnaire format randomly, to 1,000 males and females. Among the questions asked were, whether TCN engineers were culpable or the Ministry of Power lacked adequate supervisory authority against Gencos and Discos, and whether the activities of vandals and saboteurs were enough to scuttle Nigerians’ dream of having regular power supply. Answering, TCN engineers were completely exonerated from the sordid affair, while vandals and saboteurs were indicted.
All the respondents returned a verdict of not guilty for the TCN officials and instead lambasted NASS officials for their thoughtless extravagance and unnecessary distractions. They said if NASS was serious, they would have come up with punitive legislation to deter criminals. Now, they are aligned more with grandiose wastefulness allowing the country to drift dangerously to the precipice. The questionnaire also sought how best to help the federal Government handle the continuous blackouts. The males interviewed were from the age range of 25-60 years while females were mostly in the age bracket of 18-45 years. 55% of the respondents categorically want NASS to be scrapped for being more of a drain pipe on the nation than what they are set up to do.
They said NASS has not helped matters because they have been more interested in their welfare than the overall interest of the nation. The poll affirmed that the plight of Nigerians had made no difference to them only playing the ostrich! They condemned NASS for maintaining stoic silence despite the overwhelming need for them to do so, abandoning Nigerians to the vagaries of time. 35% of the respondents also called for stiffer punishment for vandals and saboteurs. They agreed that anyone deliberately sabotaging national assets should not be spared if caught. A good number of the respondents called for more vigilance at the locations of TCN Base Stations and urged community leaders to be more involved.
At the moment the Transmission Company officials are working round the clock to bring the situation under control. A source close to the General Manager of Public Affairs confirmed the round-the-clock efforts by the TCN Management and their parent ministry. In-house engineers and technical assistants have been mobilized and sent out to all locations. Community leaders are being sensitized to be wary of the activities of criminals and report such to the security authorities. The Public Affairs Department, meanwhile are said to be embarking on massive public enlightenment campaign to educate Nigerians on the dangers of sabotaging critical infrastructures conveying electricity to Nigerians.
