YEDC Accused of Fraudulent Billing by Borno CSOs

The Network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Borno State has accused the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) of distributing electricity bills for the months of February and March to households without providing any power supply during that period.

This accusation has raised concerns among the citizens and prompted the CSOs to call for immediate action to rectify the situation.

Addressing the media at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Maiduguri, the executive director of the CSOs in Borno State, Comrade Bulama Abiso, highlighted the devastating impact of this fraudulent billing and lack of power supply on the community.

He mentioned the loss of small businesses, water scarcity, and increased hardship faced by people during the Ramadan season due to the absence of electricity.

Abiso also pointed out that the free distribution and installation of metering systems, which were supposed to be provided to households, have been disrupted and allegedly sold at exorbitant prices.

He urged the YEDC to resume the free distribution and installation of the metering system to every household in Borno State.

Furthermore, the CSOs acknowledged the efforts of the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, in intervening on the issue of power restoration.

However, they called on all concerned stakeholders to join hands with the governor to bring a definitive end to this issue.

The CSOs also expressed their dismay over the recent hike in electricity tariffs by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), stating that the increase was announced without considering the current challenges faced by the people of Borno State.

They appealed to the federal government, NERC, Generation Companies (GENCOS), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Borno State government, and other relevant stakeholders to support the reversal of this anti-people policy.

As the situation unfolds, the YEDC and other stakeholders are expected to respond to the accusations and take necessary measures to address the concerns raised by the CSOs in Borno State.