News

AEDC Issues Deadline To ECOWAS, UN, Nigerian Ministries To Pay N37billion Debts Or Face Disconnection

Published

9 months ago

February 21, 2024

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) has given the United Nations’ Abuja liaison office, the Head Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Abuja, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ministry of Power, Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance and over 50 other ministries, departments and agencies 10-day disconnection ultimatum over N37.641 billion outstanding electricity charges debt.

SaharaReporters on Monday reported that the AEDC threatened to disconnect the electricity supply of the Presidential Villa in Abuja, along with Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) over a total debt of N47.1 billion.

The electricity distribution company said that the Presidential Villa owes the sum of N923,873,150 as an outstanding debt for electricity charges.

the power distribution company said that the Clerk to the National Assembly, Ojo Olatunde Amos, the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), also known as State Security Services (SSS), owe a total of N3,416,204,222 in electricity bill.

In a disconnection notice on Monday, the AEDC listed the outstanding electricity debts of government ministries, departments and agencies as of December 2023.

It gave the MDAs 10 days to comply and pay their debts or risk disconnection and subsequent blackout from February 28, 2024.

The company in the document stated that it was constrained to publish the details of the debts which had lasted for long for the services rendered.

The AEDC stressed that the publication of the unpaid electricity bill became imperative because its “previous attempts to make them honour their obligations have not achieved the desired result”.

According to the AEDC, the United Nations Abuja liaison office owes the sum of N107,685,232, while Head ECOWAS owes the sum of N99,773,800 in electricity bill.

The company further stated that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria owes the sum of N1,584,767,584, while Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) owes the sum of N7,573,120,732, and the Ministry of Finance owes the sum of N5,432,741,321, while Chief of Defence Staff – Barracks and Military Formations, Abuja owes N12,001,481,606 in electricity bill.

Other ministries, departments and agencies on the AEDC list are Ministry of Petroleum Resources which owes the sum of N2,129,376,879; Ministry of Education owes N1,817,404,102; Ministry of Health owes N1,187,864,924; Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) owes N846,110,778; Ministry of Justice/Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) owes N815,677,935, while Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) owes N362,387,502.

Also, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) owes the sum of N322,603,596; Ministry of Information owes N302,060,743; Ministry of Trade and Investment owes N281,539,635; Ministry of Interior Affairs owes N268,595,850; Ministry of Works and Housing owes N215,670, 588; Ministry of Foreign Affairs owes N200,297,253; Comptroller General of Custom owes N173,432,325; Ministry of Budget and Planning owes N168,593,410, while Ministry of Agriculture owes the sum of N140,149,183.

The AEDC further stated that Ministry of Communication owes the sum of N124,095,050, while Ministry of Culture and Tourism owes N114,608,811; Ministry of Transport owes N97,773,800; National Security Adviser (NSA) owes N95,904,659; Nigerian Communication Commission owes N95,204,007; Ministry of Mines and Steel Development owes N94,635,258; Ministry of Science and Technology owes N80,509,683, while Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) owes the sum of N78,118,641 in electricity bill.

Others are, Ministry of Power which is said to be owing the sum of N78,029,797, while Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) owes N74,970,206; the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) owes N60,550,254; Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) owes N56,713,906; National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) owes N56,376,179; Ministry of Environment owes N53,187,896; Ministry of Water Resources owes N52,944,694, while Ministry of Women Affairs owes N37,407,828.

Also, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) owes the sum of N35,304,503; Post Master General owes N32,206,182; Director General of the Meteorological Agency owes N31,576,383; National Pension Commission owes N27,164,745; National Social Insurance Trust Fund owes N26,662,698; National Insurance Commission owes N19,006,097 and Local Government – Niger State owes N18,805,733.

The electricity distribution company further listed the Managing Director of World Bank in Abuja as owing the sum of N17,596,613, while Nigeria’s Head of Service owes N17,512,936; National Human Right Commission (NHRC) owes N17,107,834; Ministry of Labour and Employment owes N15,681,999; Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) owes N14,426,249; Public Complaints Commission (PCC) owes N13,723,736, while Ministry of Science and Technology appearing the second time on the list owes N11,997,114.

The company also said that Industrial Training Fund (ITF) is owing the sum of N10,897,135, while Comptroller General of Prison is owing N10,879,284; New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) owes N8,316,065; Local Government – FCT owes N5,415,746; Chief Justice – FCT owes N5,005,748; National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) owes N4,455,332, and National Cereals Research Institute owes N3,781,540.

Others are National Immigration Service which is owing the sum of N3,557,729; Comptroller General of Immigration owes N1,517,866; Local Government – Nasarawa owes N2,970,940; National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) owes N1,459,542; Ministry of Aviation owes N1,418,984, while Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) owes N1,060,286 in electricity bill.

News

Obasanjo narrates how he escaped becoming drug addict

Published

2 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Naijablitznews

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how he almost became a drug addict.

He spoke in Abeokuta over the weekend at the second edition of ‘Fly Above The High’ anti-drug campaign conference organised by the Recovery Advocacy Network.

Obasanjo stated that smoking during his youthful age led to chronic coughing and almost became an addiction.

The former President, while lamenting the increase in drug abuse among Nigerians and other West Africans, urged Nigerian students and young people to refrain from abusing psychoactive drugs, saying that they ruin life rather than enhance it.

“If I had persisted, I could have become addicted. Once you get involved, it is difficult to get out.

“There’s nothing drug can do for you except destruction.

“We found out that West Africa has equally been a centre for drug consumption in a very bad way. That was more than 10 years ago, so the situation has since gone worse. And whatever applies to West Africa applies to all other parts of Africa,” Obasanjo said.

He cautioned against stigmatization and urged individuals who are already addicted to psychoactive drugs to get help.

News

We saved $20bn after Petrol Subsidy Removal and FX Rate Reforms, Says Finance Minister

Published

2 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Naijablitznews

Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, says Nigeria has saved $20 billion from petrol subsidy removal and market-based pricing of the foreign exchange rate.

Edun spoke at a ceremony recently held to mark the first 100 days in office of Esther Walso-Jack, head of civil service of the federation, in Abuja.

“An amount of five per cent of GDP is what those two subsidies were costing when there was a subsidy on PMS; when there was petroleum product generally for a long time and when there was a subsidy of foreign exchange. Between them, they were costing five percent of GDP,” he said.

“If you say GDP was on average, let’s say $400 billion. We all know what five percent of that is – $20 billion of funds that could be going into infrastructure, health, social services, education.”

News

Okpebholo restores statutory rights to Oba of Benin, abolish traditional councils created by predecessor

Published

2 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has restored the statutory rights of the Benin Monarch, Oba Ewuare II, abolishing the new traditional councils in Edo South created by the last administration.

He also backed the Federal Government’s Gazette, which gave the ownership of the returned artefact to the Oba’s palace, which was looted during the 1897 Benin massacre by the British colonial forces.

Also, the state government is withdrawing the letter revoking the concession of the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre issued by the last administration to be used as a motor park.

These were contained in a statement released by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, on Sunday.

The statement further read, “This administration is restoring the Oba Akenzua centre to a suitable condition for its original purpose.

“This administration also hereby abolishes the new traditional councils in Edo South, created by the last administration.

“Accordingly, Okpebholo has restored the statutory financial entitlements of the Benin Traditional Council and has ordered that the status quo before the creation of the now abolished councils be maintained.

“The Okpebholo administration is backing the initial plan of the state Government to build the Benin Royal Museum that will house the returned artefacts and is distancing itself from the Museum of West Africa Art (MOWA) which the previous administration fronted as the museum to hold the returned Benin artefacts before the federal government intervention on the matter.

“The Federal Government has also issued a Gazette for the recognition of ownership and custody of the repatriated Benin artefacts to Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II. This was done through a Government Notice No.25 in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No.57, Volume 110.”

The statement added that Okpebholo respects the rights and privileges of the traditional ruler of the Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare ll, and pledges the support of his administration to ensure the Monarch plays his role as the custodian of the rich cultural heritage of the Benin people.

“It is in recognition of this that the administration of Governor Okpebholo shall support the decision of the Federal Government to uphold the Oba of Benin as the exclusive owner of the returned Benin artifacts that were looted by the British Colonial forces during the Benin massacre of 1897.

“The Oba of Benin, as the father of all Benin people, is the sole custodian of the customs and traditions of the Benin people and my administration respects customs and traditions in the land and hereby restores the statutory rights of the Oba of Benin as the true custodian of the returned Benin artefacts.

“Okpebholo said his administration is committed and will refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the Benin Traditional Council.

“The governor is using his constitutional powers and the respect for traditional institutions and the revered Oba of Benin to restore all other Statutory Rights of the Monarch not mentioned hereof, ” the statement read.