The Kaduna State Government House and other state government facilities have been plunged into darkness after Kaduna Electric disconnected their electricity supply due to unpaid bills amounting to N2.9bn.
AbdulAzeez Abdullahi, the Head of Corporate Communication, stated on Friday that Kaduna Electric had made several attempts to address the issue, including consultations with state officials, before finally issuing a disconnection notice on July 21.
In a related development, the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service sealed the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company over a N600m tax liability.
Following the operation early on Friday, KADIRS Executive Chairman, Jerry Adams, informed journalists that the move was in compliance with a court order to restrain KAEDCO due to the outstanding liability to the state.
Adams clarified that the N600m tax liability dated back to 2015-2022, during which reconciliations were made with KAEDCO agreeing to settle a significant portion of the liability.
Expressing dissatisfaction, Adams remarked, “Since the establishment of the liability last year, KAEDCO has failed to fulfill its commitments.”
“We are authorized by law to seal and take over their premises to ensure compliance, and that’s precisely what we implemented this morning.”
Meanwhile, Kaduna Electric’s statement highlighted that the outstanding electricity bill from January to July 2024 alone stood at an alarming N1,166,856,991.87.
This, combined with previous debts, has left the State Government with a total debt of N2,943,060,116.77, according to KAEDCO.
Despite a payment of N256,920,963.88 made on May 9, 2024, for electricity consumed between September to December 2023, the state’s debt remains significantly high.
“This payment, though substantial, has not been sufficient to clear the arrears,” the statement noted.
The decision to disconnect power came after exhaustive attempts to resolve the payment issues, including numerous consultations with state officials.
In contrast, sister states under the Kaduna Electric franchise like Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara, have upheld good account standing, consistently meeting their electricity payment obligations.
The official disconnection notice was issued on July 21, 2024, and received by the Governor’s Office on July 22, 2024.
This action, as stated, reflects the company’s need to meet financial obligations in the midst of the challenges facing the electricity sector.
Emphasizing that disconnection was a last resort after exhausting all avenues for resolution, Kaduna Electric is now focused on meeting its market commitments and ensuring operational stability and sustainability.