The Executive Director of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan, has disclosed that the Nigerian government holds an outstanding debt of approximately N100 billion in electricity payments.
In an interview with Arise TV on Sunday, Oduntan emphasized the importance of the government creating an enabling environment for energy distributors in the country. He revealed that the total debt owed by the Ministry, Agency, and Departments stands at N100 billion.
Oduntan highlighted that the timely settlement of electricity bills by the government could have prevented the recent payment of debts by the presidential villa to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company. He urged all stakeholders, including the government, to fulfill their financial obligations to support the energy distribution sector.
“I said all of us need to pay our part. On the part of the government, always try to create an enabling environment for businesses to strive. Always play your part by paying your own bill,” he emphasized.
He also referenced a recent incident where news surfaced that the Nigeria presidential villa was owing an electricity bill. The bill was reportedly settled only after Abuja DisCo drew attention to it through an advertisement.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently issued a directive for the clearance of the N342.3 million outstanding electricity bill with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company. The directive followed the completion of account reconciliation by the State House Management and AEDC. The Discos had listed the Presidential Villa, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Health, the CBN governor, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) among the entities with outstanding payments.
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