…As Senate Moves To Ban Importation
By Ignatius Okorocha
The Senate on Wednesday at plenary passed for the first a Bill proposing 10 years jail term for sellers of generating sets.
The Bill, tagged “a Bill for an Act to prohibit/ban the importation/use of generating sets to curb the menace of environmental (air) pollution and to facilitate the development of the power sector,” was sponsored by Senator Bima, Muhammad Enagi (Niger South Senator District).
According to the content of the Bill, “Any person 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.
“Provided that this subsection shall not apply to the importation or sale of any generating set to be used for essential services.”
The ban has, however, excluded essential services.
“The ban/prohibition of generating sets shall not include generating sets used for essential services which include: Medical purposes (hospitals and nursing homes and healthcare facilities), airports, railway stations/services, elevators (lifts), escalators, research Institutions, and such facilities that require 24 hours electric power supply.”
The Bill added that “approval for exclusion shall be obtained from the Minister in charge of Power who shall brief the Federal Executive Council quarterly on approvals granted.”
The Bill further directed that Nigerians should immediately stop the use of generating sets in order to curb the menace of environmental pollution, which leads to potential health hazards it poses to the whole nation.
“All persons are hereby directed to stop the use of electricity generating sets which run on diesel/petrol/kerosene of all capacities with immediate effect in the country,” it said.
Explaining the meaning of generating sets, the Bill said, “a machine that is used for producing electricity.”
It said: “This Bill seeks to ban the importation and use of generating sets (generators) in the country and to curb the menace of environmental pollution which leads to potential health hazards it poses to the whole nation.”
