IKEDC Attacks: ANED insists power reconnection at NAF Base impossible without settling N4.3bn debts

*The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors declares despite the recent invasion of the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Plc facilities, the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, in Ikeja, Lagos State, will not be reconnected to the national grid without settlement of its N4.3 billion debts owed to the DisCo

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), the professional association of the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in the country, has said the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, in Ikeja, Lagos State, would not be reconnected to the grid without payment of its N4.3 billion debts owed to Ikeja Electric (IKEDC)Plc.

ConsumerConnect reports the Ikeja DisCo recently disconnected power supply to Sam Ethnan Air Force Base Ikeja because of the unpaid N4.3 billion debts.

The debt burden incurred from the transactions with the NAF Base has impacted negatively on the operations of the Ikeja Electric Plc, according to report.

Instead of fashioning out a civil and amicable way of offsetting the debts owed to IKEDC, armed soldiers rather invaded the Headquarters, and offices of the DisCo, causing bodily injuries to staff and news reporters in sight besides vandalisation of the company’s facilities in the process.

The development has attracted strong condemnations from Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Honourable Minister for Power, Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA), and several Nigerians alike.

‘Reconnection not possible immediately’: Electricity Providers

Reacting to the Air Force officials’ invasion of the Headquarters of Ikeja Electric Plc, vandalising equipment and beating personnel, and others, including reporters, Sunday Oduntan, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy at ANED, said: “Reconnection is not possible immediately. They have to pay what they owe us.”

Though there were ongoing engagements targeted at ensuring payment and reconnection of the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base Ikeja, Odunta said: “The attack of Ikeja Electric Plc should not happen in a civilian administration because there are better ways of resolving issues.”

IKEDC Chair: We’ve been discussing debts with NAF for 7 years

Earlier, Kola Adesina, Chairman of Ikeja DisCo, was quoted to have revealed: “We are being owed a significant chunk of money, about N4 billion.

“We’ve been discussing this for about seven years. Somehow, the money wasn’t coming through.”

Adesina explained: “As a distribution company, we have the responsibility to collect and remit money into a common account for the settlement of all value chain players, including the gas suppliers, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, and other critical market participants.”

He lamented: “Of course, that has led to liability in our books that we’ve been carrying in our balance sheet and it has made us a bankrupt organisation so to speak.

“Somehow, we’ve been riding the wave but the very difficult and challenging.”

Commenting on the development also, Dr. Muda Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of  Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), told Vanguard in an interview: “This  jungle approach to solving problem is not good.

“As a nation, we have gone far beyond this jungle methodology.”

Dr. Yusuf stated: “I will suggest the top hierarchy of the Air Force in particular, and the Military in general should caution all their operatives to avoid the use of this embarrassing approach.

“It is not good for our perception as a major investment destination.

“There are more orderly and acceptable ways and means of resolving issues. We need to avoid a repeat of this kind of behavior in future.”

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