EKEDC urges National Assembly to intervene in N21bn MDA debt

By Uthman Salami

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has urged the National Assembly  to weigh in the debt owed to the company by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) totaling about N21 billion.

This charge was made known 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 Company revealed that the government  agencies were its largest debtors and has devised strategies to commence repayment of the debt by MDAs.

The company is worried that the inability of the DisCo to collect its debt owed is hampering its efforts to invest in infrastructure upgrade to improve power supply.

Fadebiyi said, “It is our prayer to this committee to intervene on the repayment of this debt owed over the years by the MDAs.”

“The biggest threat to our operations are vandals and customers who illegitimately connect to the lines causing revenue loss.

He added that the “Prosecution of these types of cases are often prolonged and difficult to conclude because of the technical expertise required by the bench.”

Fadeyibi further 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.

They said, “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.”