BY CHIDI NKWOPARA
OWERRI— Federal Government’s hammer has now descended on Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, following the planned scrapping and full privatization of the establishment.

The Commissioner in-charge of Government/Consumer Affairs of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Mr. Abba A. Ibrahim, disclosed this at a power consumer assembly in Owerri.

Noting that PHCN will no longer exist as a business entity, Ibrahim equally assured power consumers in the country that there would be no more metre maintenance charge from next year.

The commissioner recalled that 21 licences had been issued to private power generating companies and urged wealthy Nigerians to key into the reformation programme of the public power sector of the economy.

According to Ibrahim, the thermal plants such as Egbin, Sapele and others will be fully privatized, while the hydro-electricity generating projects as Shiroro, Kainji and Jebba dams would be commissioned by government under a long term concession agreement.