National Assembly
A bill seeking to ban the importation of generators in the country has passed the first reading in the Senate.
The proposed legislation scaled the first reading after it was introduced to lawmakers present at Wednesday’s plenary in the upper chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.
A member of the Senate from Niger State, Senator Muhammad Bima, sponsored 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 2020,” was one of the six bills read for the first time on Wednesday.
The bill prescribes, at least, ten years imprisonment for any person who knowingly sells generator sets.
According to the bill, which passed first reading at plenary:
“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 10 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 however excluded essential services.
“The ban or 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: “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 seeks 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.”
“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 bill further directs “all persons to stop the use of electricity generating sets which run on diesel/petrol/kerosene of all capacities with immediate effect, in the country.”
“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,” part of the document read.
The lawmakers are expected to debate the details of the bill on another legislative day.
The introduction of the bill comes four months after the Senate rejected a resolution to temporarily ban the importation of generators.
Meanwhile, another bill to alter the Constitution to provide financial and administrative autonomy for local government councils has passed second reading in the Senate.
The bill which is sponsored by Senator Ahmad Keita is one of nine other bills for the amendment of the 1999 Constitution presently before the lawmakers.
Other bills that scaled second reading on Wednesday included the Immunity for Federal Lawmakers for Words Spoken at Plenary and a bill to prevent the Federal High Court from entertaining pre-election disputes.
The Senate, however, did not throw the bills open for debate before referring them to its Committee on Constitution Amendment for further legislative action.
