Nigerians have begun to express their annoyance at the introduction of a bill to ban the sale and use of generators.
The bill titled “a bill for an Act to prohibit/ban the importation of generating sets to curb the menace of environmental (air) pollution and to facilitate the development of the power sector” passed First Reading at the Senate on Wednesday.
Sen. Bima Enagi (APC – Niger South) sponsored the bill, which prescribes a 10-year jail term for anyone caught selling generators.
According to the sponsor, the bill when passed will stop “the use of electricity generating sets which run on diesel/petroI/kerosene of all capacities with immediate effect, in the country.”
It will also ban the “importation and use of generating sets (generators) in the country and to curb the menace of environmental pollution which leads to potential health hazards it poses to the whole nation”.
However, the ban shall not include generator sets used for essential services such as medical purposes, airports, railway stations, elevators, escalators, research institutions, and facilities that require 24-hour power supply.
“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 supporting document read in part.
However, many Nigerians who took to social media queried how a country with epileptic power supply would be able to sustain the ban on generators in residential areas, which the bill appears to target.
Read comments monitored on social media:
From SM bill, to a bill to create agency for repented Boko Haram members, now a bill seeking to ban generators in Ngeria has passed first reading at the Senate, in a country without stable electricity.
We should create more awareness on mental health especially for NASS members.
— Zaddy Ajala (@UNCLE_AJALA) March 11, 2020
I think it is time we start making sure those interested in running for office anywhere in Nigeria should be made to take a compulsory IQ test as part of their pre-screening. What in God's name is Generator bill? Damn 😭
— Unu Amaro Kam Siri Kwado (@AfamDeluxo) March 11, 2020
The Rubber Stamp Senate is unarguably the worst Senate since 1960:
From hiding the line items of the N125bn budget of NASS to N36bn for renovation of NASS.
From $22.7 Billion loan approval to SocialMediaBill
Now, a bill to ban importation of generators
— IKECHUKWU (@iykimo) March 11, 2020
So many stupid bills getting introduced at our legislatures.
Just heard about a bill to ban power generators from the country, a country with a struggling power sector. Smh
— Johnny Drille (@Johnnydrille) March 11, 2020
There are plans to phase out plastics in the UK by 2025, fossil fuel cars by 2030, net zero emissions by 2050 etc. In Nigeria, someone’s generator packs up, he goes to the NASS: bill for the banning of generator. No timeline. No overarching plan. Nothing. with Immediate effect!
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) March 11, 2020
They want to ban generators??? Loool. This people will just wake up one morning and just look for ways to continue to make life difficult for Nigerians shaaa. This is just very sad.
— Ada~Beke💦🌺✨ (@blvck_Witch) March 11, 2020
This will only create a black market for generator.
If electricity is fixed in Nigeria, who will buy generator.
Waste of Bill https://t.co/OFUZqZQz4I
— Hamma (@HAHayatu) March 11, 2020
If the intention of the Bill to Ban Generators is to motivate the Govt in providing Stable Power Supply then can we also ban:
SUVs/Jeeps and all Luxury Cars to Public Servants.
Foreign Medical tourism
Helicopters and Private Jets
Aides and Police Escorts
Foreign Education.
— fred4U (@frediecruze) March 11, 2020
Ban Okada. Ban Napep. They won ban social media. They won ban protest.
Now they wanna ban generator usage in a country where some areas never see nepa light use since the beginning of the year.
What next? Start asking us to pay for breathing air in Nigeria?
— The Alexander Experience ✍️ (@MRtim__1911) March 11, 2020
Ban rice
Ban Okada
Ban Keke
Ban Generators
The next will be to ban trekking.
— Malachy Odo II (@MalachyOdo1) March 11, 2020
A Bill seeking to ban generators is another frivolous bill that will never be passed.
The sponsor of this bill is a moron, a daft and a waste of tax payers money. It's a shame Ahmed Lawan and his co-senators from the north have turned the Senate into a caricature
— Emeka Nnadozie (@ChNnadozie) March 11, 2020
Lmao. Senate want to ban generators when electricity is yet to be fixed.
How do these men even run their matrimonial homes?
— Dr Moh (@MohWorldent) March 11, 2020
A Bill to ban generators nationwide in Nigeria must be the joke of the day 😂. In a country that cannot boast of 24 hours electricity supply. These people should just tell us their crack supplier, let us hail him/her because he/she is doing well ooin🤣
— TAIWO🌸✨💥❤️ (@_Teewo) March 11, 2020
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