AEDC to disconnect Akume's house, Kogi, Niger State govt, CDS, CBN, Ministries of FCT, others over N47b debt

Source: Tribune Online
Author: Taofeek Lawal

THE Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has threatened to disconnect more than 80 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) including military formations and Nigeria Police over a debt totaling N47.195 billion.

A statement issued on Friday by the Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at AEDC, Adefisayo Akinsanya, has notified all customers with outstanding bills to settle their accounts immediately to avoid service disruption.

The statement also listed the residence of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), among others, whose residences would be disconnected should they fail to pay by Monday.

The statement advised customers who are yet to settle their outstanding bills to do so within the next 72 hours, by Monday, June 3, 2024, as failure to pay up will lead to disconnection of electricity supply to their offices.

It also emphasised the importance of adhering to payment deadlines to ensure efficient and reliable service.

"The timely payment of electricity bills remains crucial for the continued operation and enhancement of AEDC's infrastructure, which is essential for delivering uninterrupted service to the community.

"Deadline for Payment: All outstanding bills must be paid within 72 hours of this notice, by Monday, June 3, 2024," the statement read.

A check by Sunday Tribune revealed that the Chief of Defence Staff, Barracks, and Military Formations are the highest debtors with a bill of over N12 billion, followed by the Ministries of FCT, Finance, Niger State Governor Abuja Liaison Office, the Ministry of Petroleum, State, Ministry of Education, and the CBN Governor's office, owing N7.5 billion, N5.4 billion, N3.4 billion, N2.1 billion, N1.8 billion, and N1.5 billion, respectively.

Other heavy debtors include the Nigeria Police Force, N1.38 billion; Kogi State Governor Abuja Liaison Office, N1.36 billion; Ministry of Health, N1.18 billion; and the Clerk of the National Assembly office, N1 billion.

Sunday Tribune recalls that AEDC disconnected power supply to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa earlier this year over the failure by the seat of power to pay up its utility bills to the distribution company.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during the Ministerial Sectoral Briefing marking the one-year anniversary of President Bola Tinubu's first-year scorecard, had said that all hands are on deck to ensure that MDAs pay up their outstanding debts to the AEDC to allow for more effective power generation, transmission, and distribution to customers in its catchment areas.

He noted that most MDAs usually hide under the government umbrella to avoid paying utility bills, which has affected the functions of power distribution companies (DISCOs) across the country.

Also in the class of big debtors are the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), N846 million; Ministry of Justice, N815 million; State Security Services (SSS), N648 million; Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS), N362 million; Nasarawa State Governor Abuja Liaison Office, N348 million; National Intelligence Agency (NIA), N322 million; Ministry of Information, N302 million; Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), N291 million; Ministry of Trade and Investments, N281 million; Ministry of Interior, N268 million; Ministry of Works and Housing, N215 million; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, N200 million, among others.