The Federal Government is taking steps to set up a national electricity complaints call centre that will give consumers across Nigeria a direct channel to report service challenges, seek redress, and track complaints to resolution.
The Minister of Power, Chief Joseph O. Tegbe, disclosed this at the commissioning of a 3-megawatt hybrid solar power project and Renewable Energy Workshop and Training Centre at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.
Tegbe said the initiative was designed to strengthen accountability, responsiveness and consumer confidence in the power sector.
“My office is working on a call centre where electricity complaints across the country can be lodged and resolved,” the Minister said, adding that the initiative would also create sustainable job opportunities for young Nigerians.
The Minister also announced plans for a dedicated reporting channel for vandalism of critical electricity infrastructure, enabling Nigerians to alert the authorities to incidents involving transformers, transmission towers and other power assets for faster intervention.
He said the Federal Government was working with the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to tackle the destruction of electricity infrastructure.
Tegbe urged Nigerians, particularly members of the university community, to see the protection of power infrastructure as a shared responsibility and to report vandalism promptly.
The commissioning of the hybrid power project provided the backdrop for the Minister’s call for greater public participation in protecting investments in the power sector.
Delivered under Phase II of the Federal Government’s Energising Education Programme by the Rural Electrification Agency, the project is designed to support teaching, research, laboratories and digital services.
At the same time, its 388 streetlights will enhance visibility and security across the campus.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, said the establishment of the Renewable Asset Management Company would help ensure that renewable-energy assets are properly managed, maintained and protected after commissioning.
The planned complaints centre and vandalism reporting channel form part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to build a power sector that is more responsive, accountable and connected to the people it serves.
For the Federal Government, the next phase of power-sector reform is not only about building infrastructure, but ensuring that Nigerians have a clear channel to report problems, public assets are protected, and action follows complaints.
