TCN MD, Usman Gur Mohammed

*** Eliminates Third Party 10 Percent Charges

By CLEMENT NWOJI, Abuja

The Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Usman Gur Mohammed, has assured that those who would be affected by expansion of its transmission network lines will be paid directly through their bank accounts.

Mohammed spoke while giving updates on development programmes of the TCN during the 3rd quarter briefing with Journalists in Abuja.

He said that TCN has through experience discovered that paying beneficiaries through third party doesn’t work because of fraudulent practices associated with it.

Mohammed explained that by paying compensation to beneficiaries directly through their various bank accounts, TCN has successfully eliminated 10 percent charges by third parties for managing the affairs/accounts of the beneficiaries.

According to the TCN Managing Director, “We have eliminated paying those who will be affected by the construction of New lines through third party but we pay directly to their accounts.

“So, there no more collection of 10 percent for management of account or affairs of anybody. Because experience has shown that it does not work, people abuse it, people use it to defraud others. So, nobody can take proper care of the beneficiaries better than paying them directly to their accounts.”

He further disclosed that the equipment ordered for the re-conducting of some lines so that we can recover about 3000 MW has arrived.

He disclosed that the debt owed to Nigeria for Power supplied to Benin, Togo and Niger has reduced to $7 million from about $100 Million when he came into office.

Mohammed who doubles as Chairman of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) said: “It is not because I am the chairman of the West African Power Pool (WAAP) that I will be allowing international customers to cheat Nigeria”.

“When I took over as MD TCN, both Benin and Togo were owing Nigeria more than $100 million. The debt now remains $7 million.

“Niger is owing less than $2 million. In short, we are not leaving them. We disconnect them as we disconnect customers here in Nigeria. Electricity is not charity. We cannot just allow people to consume electricity and leave us like that.

“As at now, we have restricted their supply to only their contracted ones. We are insisting they pay all their outstanding bills before we reconnect them and we increase the off-take.”