NIGER State has threatened to stop paying its debt to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), if power outage persists in the state.
Commissioner for Works Abdulmalik Cheche addressed reporters yesterday after the State Executive meeting. He said power failure had persisted despite government’s pleas to AEDC to increase supply.
According to him, the state, which hosts three hydro power stations, each with a 1,600-megawatt capacity, should not suffer power outage.
He said since AEDC refused to increase electricity supply, the government will also stop payment.
“It was resolved in the council that the state may decide to step down its debt payment to the AEDC, if the service they provide does not improve. The state also resolved to stop providing transformers since the power sector is no longer owned by the Federal Government but the private sector.”
“We call on our people to continue to be patient as plans are underway for alternative state-owned power supply that will be generated and distributed directly to the state,” he said.
Cheche hinted that it was also resolved that the AEDC would, henceforth, be charged to pay ground rent for its transformers in the state.