Adelabu to Benin DisCo: Publish names of debtors — electricity not free

Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, has asked the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to publish the names of debtors in Edo.

According to NAN on Friday, Adelabu gave the directive when he met with the management of BEDC during an inspection tour of power projects in Benin — the state capital.

The tour comes more than a year after the restructuring of the DisCo in July 2022, which led to the eventual takeover of the power firm by Fidelity Bank.

“There is nothing wrong with publishing the names of the company’s debtors because electricity supply is not free,” the minister said.

“The BEDC needs money to remain in business and serve its customers well. I will not stop you from disconnecting organizations or individuals owing.

“I am also not going to stop you from publishing the names of the debtors. Nigerians need to know the truth.

“If you want to publish the names of those owing, you can go ahead and do so.”

Adelabu condemned the high energy theft rate in the country and pledged to sponsor bills at the national assembly to combat it.

He also assured President Bola Tinubu of his commitment to improving power supply and promised to complete all existing projects before awarding new ones.

“Meter bypassing is making this company to run at a loss,” the minister said.

Deolu Ijose, managing director of BEDC, said meter bypassing is a significant challenge for the company.

Ijose, however, said the company had connected many communities to the national grid and provided feeders in its franchise states.

In June last year, distribution companies complained about rising debts by customers following an order by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) asking DisCos to fulfill their obligations.

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) had said it was owed over N50 billion in outstanding electricity bills by consumers in Kwara.

On February 19, 2024, the management of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) also issued a 10-day notice to 86 government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) — including the presidential villa — to pay up the N47.1 billion electricity debt they owe or risk disconnection.

Reacting to the notice a day later, Tinubu directed the immediate payment of Aso Villa’s outstanding electricity bill owed to AEDC.