Senate introduces bill to criminalize use, importation of generators in Nigeria

By Adetayo Opeyemi

The Senate on Wednesday introduced a bill seeking to criminalise use and importation of dynamos, popularly referred to as generators, in the country.

The billed titled “Generating Set (Prohibition/Ban Bill, 2020), was sponsored by Senator representing Niger South, Mohammed Enagi Birma.

If passed the into law, the bill, which passed first reading during the day’s plenary session, stipulates a ten-year jail term for anyone found using generator in the country.

The bill, however, limits this legislation to domestic use and does not cover the use of generators for essential services.

According to the sponsor, “The ban/prohibition of generating sets shall not include generating sets used for essential services which include: Medical purpose (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.’’

Generators are most widely used for generating power supply across the country. This is not unconnected to the abysmal state of electricity supply in Nigeria with successive governments failing to address the issue, despite spending millions of dollars.