Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) asked the National Assembly to intervene in the debt owed to the company by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) which total about N21 billion.
This was disclosed by the Managing Director, EKEDC, Mr Adeoye Fadeyibi, during a visit of the Senate Committee on Privatisation to the company on Tuesday, in Lagos. The Committee was led by its Chairman, Sen. Theodore Orji.
The EKEDC revealed the government agencies were its largest debtors and has devised strategies to commence repayment of the debt by MDAs, citing worries that the inability of the DisCo to collect its debt owed is impeding its efforts to invest in infrastructure upgrade to improve power supply.
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“It is our prayer to this committee to intervene on the repayment of this debt owed over the years by the MDAs,” Fadeyibi said.
“The biggest threat to our operations are vandals and customers who illegitimately connect to the lines causing revenue loss.
Prosecution of these types of cases are often prolonged and difficult to conclude because of the technical expertise required by the bench,” he added.
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Fadeyibi also called for legislation against energy theft and the establishment of electricity special courts to try offenders in the country, he added that a policy framework should be implemented to address illegal independent power producers.
The Senate Committee added that there is a need to repay this debt because EKEDC has thousands of Nigerians as employees and the company is providing a critical service which is electricity.
“We will also be looking at the issue of unauthorised persons carrying out electrical installation duties in the country because it is creating problems for the power sector,” they said.
