A bill seeking the ban on the use of generators in Nigeria was given a second reading at the Senate Wednesday.
The bill read on the floor of the Senate is also seeking a minimum of 10 years imprisonment for anybody found selling the product in the country. The bill drafted for legislation was given first reading consideration along with five others.
The bill sponsored by Senator Bima Muhammad Enagi (APC Niger South), is titled: “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit /Ban the Importation /Use of Generating Sets to Curb the Menace of Environmental Pollution and to Facilitate the Development of the Power Sector.”
Explanatory memorandum of the draft bill states: “This bill seeks to ban the importation and use of generating sets in the country and 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.”
Essential services were however excluded from the planned ban, prosecution and imprisonment of offenders.
The services listed as essential in the bill which are exempted from ban on use of generating sets are medical purposes , airports, railway stations / services , elevators , escalators , research institutions and other facilities requiring 24 hours electric power supply .
Approval for exclusion from the planned ban as stated in the bill is to be given by the minister in charge of power who shall brief the Federal Executive Council quarterly on approvals granted.
