Nigerians Attack Senate Over Bill Seeking Ban On Generators 

A newly introduced bill at the senate has sparked reactions from Nigerians. The bill is seeking to ban importation of generating sets into the country.

The bill which was sponsored by the senator representing Niger South in Niger State, Bima Muhammad Enagi, was read on the floor of the Senate for the first time on Wednesday.

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 The bill proposes 10-year jail term for sellers of generators in the country, while also seeking to stop Nigerians from using, “electricity generating sets which run on diesel/petrol/kerosene of all capacities with immediate effect in the country”.

Senator Bima Muhammad Enagi

According to a provision of the bill, anyone who, “imports generating sets; or 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”.

Meanwhile, some Nigerians have taken to Twitter to air their views on the move.

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Many criticized the upper legislative chamber for making the move at a time the country was still battling with stable supply of power.

Below are some of the reactions:

@casmir04: “Let them improve power, nobody will remember generator. The problem with this govt is that they do the last thing first. They didn’t empower people to cultivate rice , the banned rice and it became the new gold. One day this mistake must pass.

@CACCOT1: “Price of generators will skyrocket in few days ahead. Banning shouldn’t come before provision of stable electricity. If people have access to ordinary 15 hours uninterrupted supply, generator will fade away naturally not to talk of 24 hours! Also, make solar panels affordable.

@Munachiiso: “It is actually a wonderful idea due to the emission of CO into the atmosphere, but the only problem I have with them is the poor nature of electricity in Nigeria. If they can be supplying power for at least 20 hrs a day, there won’t be need for Generators.

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@meccuno: “There would be complete chaos and the suffering just started. Do these people want to turn Nigeria into a prehistoric era? Network is bad and their mast run on gen but you want to ban generator. Where are those useless southern senators?

@AdamAudel: “There is no power supply you are banning generators. Our senators bunch of disgrace to this country.

@obiamakaChi: “Lol this is madness! Nigerian lawmakers just love bans. Instead of them to work on providing 24/7 power that’ll make generators obsolete, they’d rather go the route that definitely ensures that Nigerians will suffer.

@MrEnclave: “If this is not madness, I don’t know what is. If there’s uninterrupted power supply, really who wants to use generators!??!!? You cannot provide it, you don’t want people to provide for themselves as well! I truly hope it is a joke from those jokers. So unrealistic.

@Folatunz: “Banning of generators shouldn’t come before provision of stable electricity. If Nigerians have access to ordinary 15 hours uninterrupted supply, generator will fade away naturally not to talk of 24 hours!

@HAHayatu: “This will only create a black market for generator. If electricity is fixed in Nigeria, who will buy generator. Waste of Bill

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@hommlibre: “But wait, oh, We actually don’t have power in this country. If we had constant power supply, we wouldn’t buy the generators. But no, the problem is always with us.

@tonyajiri: “Can the senator say he enjoys 24hr electricity supply in his village or Abuja residence. Check the budgets for both houses, are there no provision for running generators? What a misplaced priority!!”

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