March 29, 2024

Niger has invested over N3bn on transformers, repairs- Niger Govt. SSG

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Solomon Ezeme

The Niger State government has purchased about N3 billion worth of Transformers and commenced the repair of faulty electricity service lines across the State. This was confirmed in a statement by Alhaji Ahmed Matane, Secretary to Niger Government, on Wednesday.

According to him, the government has invested more than N3 billion in the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for the provision of transformers, service lines, and other services for communities. He claimed such investment is enough to be used as a condition to negotiating the payment of its indebtedness to Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.

EnergyDay gathered that the AEDC on April 15, 2022, issued a notice to disconnect all government facilities from power supply over the N1.9 billion debt the state government was owning the company.

The company went ahead to disconnect all government facilities such as the state house of assembly complex, state secretariat, office of the Secretary to the Niger government, water board, and all government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Matane said that the state government was only owing to the company only N1 billion of which about 50 percent of the debt was inherited from the previous administration.

He refuted the claims by AEDC that the state government was owing to the company N1.9 billion, explaining that the state government instead invested more than N3 billion into the company to purchase transformers and other light services.

Matane said that the state government had been paying N46 million to the company monthly, adding that the government had engaged a private consultant to verify the validity of the claims made by AEDC.

He noted that the present administration was a responsible government that had always created an enabling environment for investors and private organizations to thrive.

He assured the public that efforts were ongoing to ensure water supply to residents as soon as possible.

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