Power supply has been restored to the Niger State government, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) after the payment of N274 million electricity bills.

On August 26, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) disconnected Government House, ministries and health institutions over unpaid electricity bills totalling N1.3 billion.

Mahamud Keni, Niger regional manager, AEDC, on Tuesday said the government had agreed to pay N100 million monthly to settle the outstanding debt of N1.3 billion.

“The company received a sum of N200 million outstanding debts of N1.3 billion unpaid bills that accumulated before now and N74 million monthly current bill for August.

“We have since restored power supply to the Government House, hospitals, ministries as well various departments, institutions and hospitals across the state,” he said.

He, however, hoped that the state government would sustain its obligation by ensuring prompt payments.

Mr Keni reiterated the company’s determination to continue to provide qualitative service through the provision of a constant power supply for the overall development of the state.

When contacted, the Secretary to the State Government, Ahmed Matane, said N274 million had been released to the company.

“We have invested more than N13 billion on the procurement of transformers and other facilities to support the company to improve power supply power.

“We have done that in good faith in the last seven years to enable the company to perform optimally,” Mr Matane said.

Mr Matane also said that for the company to disconnect the government organisations over the outstanding debts was surprising.

(NAN)