Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Central Bank of Nigeria, Defence Headquarters,and government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are owing the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) around N47 billion in electricity bills.
A public notice issued by the management of the AEDC reveals that the Presidential Villa owes the DisCo the N923.9m; the National Security Adviser owes N95.9bn; the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory owes N7.57bn, while Ministry of Power owes N78m.
According to the notice, the AEDC said it would be constrained to publish the names of MDAs 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 result”.
Also, the AEDC threatened to disconnect the MDAs in 10 days if they fail to pay their debts.
AEDC said: “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 disconnection of our services to them until they discharge their obligations to us by paying their debts.”
According to the notice, the Chief of Defence, staff barracks and military formations are the most indebted, with N12bn; the Ministry of Finance is indebted to the tune of N5.43bn; and the Niger State Governor’s Abuja liaison office owe N3.45bn.
Also, the Ministry of State Petroleum owe N2.13bn, Ministry of Education owe N1.82bn; Central Bank Governor owes N1.56bn; the Nigeria Police Force owe N1.38bn; MD World Bank owe N17.60m; Rivers State Governor’s Abuja liaison office owes N15m; Ogun State Governor’s Abuja liaison office owes N1.51m; Economic and Financial Crimes Commission owe N291.30m; Independent National Electoral Commission owe N75m; Independent Corrupt Practices Commission owe N60.55m; Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria owe N846m; and National Youth Service Corps owe N56.38m.
Other organizations that are indebted to the AEDC are the Ministries of Health, Information, Trade & Investment, Budget & Planning, Agriculture, Communication, Culture & Tourism, Transport, Mines, Science & Technology, Environment, Women Affairs, Justice, and Labour.
Also, the liaison offices of Governors of Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Kaduna, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa, Zamfara, Enugu, Nasarawa, and Katsina are owing the Abuja DisCo.
Furthermore, AEDC said the United Nations’ Abuja liaison office; the Comptroller General of Customs; the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Clerk of the National Assembly; the State Security office; the Head of ECOWAS; the Chief Justice of the FCT, COREN, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and others are owing them..
