Sunday Oduntan, the Executive Director of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, has brought to light a significant challenge in the country's energy sector – the Nigerian government owes approximately N100 billion in outstanding electricity bills. In an interview with Arise TV, Oduntan emphasized the necessity for the government to create a conducive environment for energy distributors and fulfill its financial obligations.
Oduntan revealed that the cumulative debt owed by various Ministries, Agencies, and Departments (MDAs) stands at N100 billion. He underscored the recent incident involving the presidential villa's outstanding electricity bill, which was only settled after the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company resorted to a public advert to capture the president's attention.
Expressing concern, Oduntan urged prompt payments from government entities, stating, "We've been saying this for a long time. They didn't start owing from May 2023. So there is no politics or mischief here. We are talking facts and how we can solve problems."
This revelation follows President Bola Tinubu's directive to clear the N342.3 million outstanding electricity bill with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, involving entities such as the Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Health, CBN governor, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. The situation raises questions about the financial health of the government and its impact on the stability of the nation's power supply.
