The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, introduced a bill to ban the use of generators in Nigeria, where it passed its first reading.
The bill, sponsored by Bima Enagi, senator representing Niger South, is proposing a ban on the use of electric generators in the country.
If the bill titled ‘Generating Set (Prohibition/Ban) Bill’ is eventually signed into law, it will prohibit the use of generator sets in Nigeria.
However, according to Premium Times, the ban will not include generator sets used for essential services such as: Medical purposes, airports, railway stations/services, elevators, escalators, research institutions and facilities that require 24 hours power supply.
The Cable reports that according to a copy of the bill, anyone who imports or sells generators in Nigeria risks at least 10 years of imprisonment.
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It states that anybody who: “Imports generating sets, or knowingly sells generating sets shall be guilty of an offence and be liable of conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than ten years”.
It added that 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
“Approval for exclusion shall, however, be obtained from the Minister in charge of Power, who shall brief the Federal Executive Council quarterly on approvals granted.”.
The lawmakers are expected to debate the details of the bill on another legislative day.