Meter Installation: Power Minister Tells Consumers Not To Pay For Poles

Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, says it is criminal for any PHCN official to demand for money from electricity consumers to replace wooden electricity poles with concrete ones before installation of pre-paid meters.
The minister made the clarification while briefing State House correspondents on the outcome of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over on Wednesday by Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
Nnaji was reacting to allegations that PHCN officials were demanding for between N20,000 and N30,000 from consumers to effect the swap.
He said poles were public property and consumers should report any PHCN officials that demanded for money to his office.
The minister, however, explained that the exception to the directive was only if the poles were within the premises of a company or a large estate.
“The poles are not owned by individuals unless they are within the property of a company or very large estate, otherwise, the poles tend to be public ownership which means PHCN-owned and therefore, they should not ask for money to change poles.
Source