By Ikechukwu Okaforadi and Musa Adamu
Senate yesterday passed for second reading a Bill seeking to slam a ten year jail term on Nigerians unsung generating sets running on diesel, petrol, or kerosene, saying such constitutes health hazard on the nation and environmental pollution.
In the Bill titled “A Bill for an Act to prohibit/Ban the importation/use of generating sets to curb the menace of environmental pollution and to facilitate the development of the power sector”, which was sponsored by Senator Bima Muhammed Enagi (Niger South Senatorial District), anybody who sell generators shall be guilty of the offense.
“Any person who imports generating sets, knowingly sells generating sets shall be guilty of an offense 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 Bill said.
The Bill however excluded essential services, saying “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, escalators, research institutions, and such facilities that require 24 hours electricity power supply”.
It said approval for exclusion shall be obtained from the minister in charge of power who shall brief the federal executive council quarterly on approvals grated. “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”, the Bill warned.
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