Senate plans 10-yr jail term for generating sets importers, sellers

Importers and sellers of electricity generating sets in Nigeria are in for trouble as the Senate yesterday introduced a bill proposing 10 years jail term for them.

Christened “a Bill for an Act to prohibit/ban the importation/use of generating sets to curb the menace of environmental (air) pollution and to facilitate the development of the power sector” and sponsored by Senator Bima, Muhammad Enagi Bima (APC Niger South).

According to the bill, which passed first reading on the floor of the upper legislative chamber, “Any person who imports generating sets; or knowingly sells generating sets shall be guilty of an offence and be liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not less than ten years.

“Provided that this subsection shall not apply to the importation or sale of any generating set to be used for essential services.”

The ban has, however, excluded essential services.

“The ban/prohibition of generating sets shall not include generating sets used for essential services which include: Medical purposes (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.”

The bill added that “approval for exclusion shall be obtained from the Minister in charge of Power who shall brief the Federal Executive Council quarterly on approvals granted.”

The bill further directed that Nigerians should immediately stop the use of generating sets in order to 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,” it said.

Explaining the meaning of generating sets, the bill said, “a machine that is used for producing electricity.”

It said: “This Bill seeks to 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.”

Other bills which passed first reading yesterday are Finance Act 2020 (Amendment) Bill sponsored by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC Kebbi North), Advanced Healthcare Development Fund Bill by Senator Sandy Onor (PDP Cross River Central), Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) Establishment Bill by Senator Hassan Mohammed (PDP Zamfara Central), Federal Polytechnic Dange, Sokoto Establishment Bill by Senator Ibrahim Danbaba (PDP Sokoto South) and Nigeria Steel University, Ajaokuta, Kogi State by Senator Oseni Yakubu (APC Kogi Central), respectively.