- AEDC has disconnected public infrastructure belonging to the Niger state government from public power supply.
- Niger government did not keep to the agreement of clearing all current and outstanding debts.
Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has disconnected public infrastructure belonging to the Niger state government from public power supply for falling short in remitting current and outstanding electricity bills. The disconnection, which took place on Tuesday, is said to be the third this year for default in payment of about N1.8 billion. The disconnection has left government offices in darkness. A statement from AEDC followed that power would only be restored upon clearing the debts, recording that the first disconnection on 20th April and the second disconnection on 26th August had not brought the expected results.
The government institutions disconnected from power supply include the Government House, General Hospital in Minna, House of Assembly, State Water Board, IBB Specialist Hospital, and the State Secretariat causing some of them to resort to generators to deliver service.
Officials of AEDC said the Niger government did not keep to the agreement of clearing all current and outstanding debts after the second disconnection in August. It was gathered that they only paid N274m for July and failed to keep the agreement for August and September. Mohammed Adamu, The Public Relations Officer of AEDC (Niger Region), confirmed the disconnection by saying, “The development is true, but we are holding a meeting, so I cannot give you more details,”.