The Acting Managing Director of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Mrs. R. Momoh has revealed that the company is owed N144 billion by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) within its operational area.
She highlighted that the Nigerian Military, the Nigeria Police Force, and other state government agencies have not settled their debts, creating significant challenges for the distribution company (Disco).
In a statement issued by Amina Tukur Othman, Head of Public Communications for the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mrs. Momoh made these remarks during an oversight visit by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Hon. Hamisu Chidari Ibrahim, along with other committee members, to EKEDC in Lagos.
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Mrs. Momoh presented an impressive performance report of the company, noting that EKEDC is the only Disco in Nigeria that has reduced its Aggregate Technical, Commercial, and Collection (ATC&C) Losses Ratio to a minimum level despite the challenges in the power sector.
She pointed out that EKEDC had successfully reduced the ATC&C Losses Ratio from 35 percent in 2023 to 15.1 percent in 2024 and that over 700,000 of its customers have been metered.
Additionally, she mentioned that the Disco is working with the federal government’s Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) to procure an additional 92,000 meters for its customers.
Mrs. Momoh also highlighted EKEDC’s significant advancements in technology, provision of meters, and transformers, and she proudly noted that EKEDC is the only Disco that consistently meets its monthly remittance obligations to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Company.
In response, Hon. Hamisu Chidari Ibrahim, the Chairman of the House Committee, expressed the committee’s commitment to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to pass legislation aimed at curbing electricity theft in the country.
He emphasized the importance of cooperation between the committee and power companies to ensure effective and efficient power supply.
The Chairman praised EKEDC for maintaining its status as the best-rated power distribution company in Nigeria and urged its management and staff to continue upholding this standard.
The oversight visit, according to Hon. Ibrahim, was part of the committee’s legislative duties to oversee all privatized and concessioned enterprises by the BPE.
He also reiterated the committee’s dedication to working closely with power companies to address electricity theft and recover debts owed by MDAs.
Hon. Decour Damnemunene, a committee member, also raised concerns about the classification of customers into Band A, which has led to many consumers not paying for the electricity they consume.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE