Tinubu faces electricity disconnection along with MDAs
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Bola Tinubu may face electricity disconnection from the Villa along with 85 federal and state Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) over N47,195 billion owed Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) in unpaid bills as of December 2023.
AEDC warned if he fails to pay up by February 28, Aso Rock would be taken off grid – probably be the first time a Nigerian President would have power yanked off from his official residence, a taste of daily the experience of average citizens.
AEDC disclosed this in a disconnection notice published on Monday.
AEDC listed the top debtors as the Chief of Defence Staff, barracks, and military formations, the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) and the Ministry of Finance.
Others include Ministry of Power, Ministry of State Petroleum, Central Bank Governor (CBN), the Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
AEDC said the debtors have been given a 10-day notice (ending February 28) to offset their bills or face disconnection.
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“The relevant MDAs are hereby given that AEDC shall, after the expiration of 10 days from the day of the publication, that is, after Wednesday, February 28, 2024, embark on disconnection of service to them until they discharge their obligation to pay us their debts”, the power distribution company (DisCo) warned.
Power Minister Adedayo Adelabu recently disclosed the Tinubu administration inherited N3 trillion in electricity subsidy debts.
He said the government cannot continue to subsidise electricity supply and would have to discontinue it.
In any case, power supply has dropped further nationwide in recent weeks, which Adelabu blamed on gas supply constraints.
The government has also disclosed plans to raise electricity tariff in the face of unstable supply – meaning consumers will pay more for even the minimal supply.