The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced its decision to disconnect 24 federal government establishments.
The ministries, departments and agencies as well as facilities belonging to Kogi and Niger state governments are due for disconnection tomorrow over unpaid electricity bills amounting to about N100 billion.
The electricity company, in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, emphasised the importance of timely payment of bills to maintain and improve its infrastructure, which it said is essential for delivering reliable electricity services.
The AEDC’s statement reads: “This is to inform the general public that AEDC will disconnect all customers with outstanding electricity bills on June 3, 2024.
“Timely payment of electricity bills is crucial for the continued operation and enhancement of AEDC’s infrastructure, ensuring we can deliver efficient and reliable service to our community.
“We therefore urge all customers with debts to pay all outstanding bills before the deadline to avoid service interruption.”
The organisations facing disconnection on Monday include Nigeria Army; Nigeria Air Force; Defence Headquarters; Federal Capital Development Authority; Kogi State Government; Niger State Government; Nigeria Police Force Headquarters and Nigerian Army Barracks.
Others are Power House; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) House I; Head of Service; Federal Ministry of Education; Federal Ministry of Women Affairs; Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; Federal Ministry of Interior; Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
Also penciled down for the Monday disconnection exercise are the National Stadium Abuja; Goodluck Jonathan Athletics Hall; Federal Ministry of Finance; Federal Ministry of Education; Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning; Federal Ministry of Works; Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Abuja and all other customers owing AEDC
The AEDC reiterated its call for all customers with outstanding debts to settle their bills before the Monday deadline to avoid disconnection.
The situation remains tense as Nigerians wait to see if government would settle the debts or the major institutions aforementioned will face power outage.
This move by the AEDC underscores the financial strain unpaid bills have place on utility providers, potentially affecting the quality and reliability of essential services.
The electricity company urged all indebted customers to act swiftly to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply.
Last week, the Chairman of Transnational Corporation (Transcorp Group, part owners of the AEDC), Mr. Tony Elumelu, pleaded with the federal government to prevail on the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) to repay the over N2 trillion it owes power generation companies (GENCOs).
Elumelu explained that despite the substantial debts, GENCOs continue to produce electricity, thereby effectively subsidising the sector.
“This situation hampers their ability to pay gas suppliers, leading to reduced and unreliable gas supplies, which are crucial since 80 per cent of Nigeria’s power comes from gas-fired plants,” he said.
