One week after cutting off these public facilities from its supply lines due to a N1.3 billion debt, the Abuja Energy Distribution Company (AEDC) has now brought electricity back to the Niger State Government House, the Minna General Hospital, and the Niger State Secretariat complex.
However, because of the ongoing rain, which has rendered this exercise risky, the AEDC has not linked the Minna Water Works.
Recall that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) had begun disconnecting the aforementioned designated places a few days ago due to a debt to the tune of about N1.3 billion for the supply of electricity to Government House, Minna, the State Secretariat housing ministries, departments, and agencies of the state government, and the General Hospital, Minna, in order to force the state government to pay up its accumulated electricity bills in full.
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According to information obtained by our sources, the decision to reconnect the public buildings came after the government and the AEDC’s management in Abuja came to an agreement on the terms for paying the N1.3 billion in accrued debt.
According to information obtained, the government partially upheld its end of the bargain by paying a portion of the debt as well as the current balance.
“The state government gave assurance that on monthly basis it will be reducing the debt” the AEDC source said without divulging details of the agreement.
The Public Relations Officer of the AEDC in Minna, Mr. Usman Adamu, confirmed the story when he spoke to reporters saying that “the discussion was held in Abuja. We are only called upon to restore supply.”
In response to a different query, Adamu claimed that the state had been receiving electricity for about 24 hours straight as a result of repairs made to the Minna 33kva substation that had burned down and the spending of more than N500 million to replace some subpar equipment.
He said: “Yes, supply of electricity has improved. We, however, urge the consumers to reciprocate by paying their bills promptly. This is the only way we can serve them better.”
