K aduna Electric has cut off electricity supply to the Kaduna State Government House and other state government facilities due to unpaid bills amounting to N2.9 billion.
In a statement released on Friday, AbdulAzeez Abdullahi, Head of Corporate Communication at Kaduna Electric, noted that the company had made numerous attempts to resolve the issue, including consultations with state officials. Despite these efforts, a disconnection notice was issued on July 21, 2024.
The disconnection follows action by the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS), which sealed the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO) over a N600 million tax liability. According to KADIRS Executive Chairman Jerry Adams, the operation executed a court order to restrain KAEDCO due to the outstanding tax liability dating from 2015 to 2022.
Adams explained that despite reconciling accounts and KAEDCO agreeing to pay a substantial portion of the liability, the company had not fulfilled its commitments. "We are backed by the law to seal and take over their premises to ensure compliance," Adams stated.
Kaduna Electric’s statement highlighted that the unpaid balance for electricity consumed from January to July 2024 alone amounted to N1,166,856,991.87. Including historical debt, the state government’s total debt stands at N2,943,060,116.77.
Despite a recent payment of N256,920,963.88 made on May 9, 2024, for electricity consumed between September and December 2023, the debt remains significant. "This payment, though substantial, has not been enough to clear the accumulated arrears," the statement read.
The disconnection decision came after repeated attempts to address the payment issues. In contrast, other states under the Kaduna Electric franchise, namely Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara, have maintained good standing with their electricity payments.
A disconnection notice was formally issued on July 21, 2024, and was received by the Office of the Governor on July 22, 2024. Kaduna Electric emphasized that the disconnection was a last resort after all other avenues for resolving the payment issue had been exhausted.
"The company is now focusing on fulfilling its commitments to the electricity market and ensuring stability in its operations and sustainability as a company," the statement concluded.
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