AEDC threatens to disconnect CBN, EFCC, other MDAs over N47.1bn debt
Kunle Sanni
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) has announced its intention to disconnect the electricity supply of 86 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) as a result of their collective debt of N47.1bn.
The disco gave the MDAs a notice on Monday, with a 10-day deadline to comply and settle their debts or face a blackout starting from February 28, 2024.
Some of the MDAs include: Ministry of Finance, Information, Budget, Works and Housing, barracks, Nigeria Police Force, Presidential Villa, CBN Governor, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and state liaison offices in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The Abuja Electricity Distribution PLC is constrained to do this publication with the details of Government, Ministries, Departments and Agencies with long outstanding unpaid bills for services rendered to them through the provision of electricity supply in that our previous attempts to make them honour their obligations have not achieved the desired results,” the notice read.
“The relevant MDAs are hereby given notice that the AEDC shall after the expiration of 10 days from the date of this publication, that is, after Wednesday, 28th February, 2024, embark on the disconnection of our services to them until they discharge their obligations to us by paying their debts.”
Nigeria’s power generation sector has been grappling with a debt burden for years.
In January, Westernpost reported that President Bola Tinubu announced an electricity deal with the German energy company, Siemens, during the COP 23 climate change event.
The deal, according to the president, is expected to improve Nigeria’s weak power supply in the coming years.
On his part, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, cautioned electricity distribution companies (DisCos) last week to take their responsibilities seriously, or risk losing their licenses.
