By Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Managing Director (MD) of Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO), Engr. Garba Haruna has disclosed that the company’s customers in Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi state owe it N36 billion monthly.
The MD, who was on inspection tour of KAEDCO installations in Sokoto and Kebbi states addressed Journalists shortly after he inspected the ongoing Sokoto Independent Power Project (IPP) on Sunday.
According to Engr. Haruna, although the projected earnings of the company is put at between N3 and N4 billion monthly, only N1 billion is generated within the same period.
He added that of the company’s customers across the states, only 20 percent were metered. “Part of our major challenge is that of all our customers, only 20 and 25 percent have meters. This is why we are going to provide between 100,000 and 150,000 meters for distribution in the interim.”
On why electricity is heavily rationed, Haruna explained that although the zone requires between 600 and 700 megawatts on daily basis, only megawatts that fluctuates between 100 and 200 is allocated to the whole zone (comprising of Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states).
He underscored the importance of partnering with Sokoto state government in order to get additional supply of electricity from the IPP adding, “We will partner to maximize the utilization of the plant.”
Haruna listed poor infrastructure, personnel training and non serviceable transformers as some of the challenges of the company since it took over in December last year.
“KAEDCO must restructure in order to operate in tune with the international standards,” he assured.
Haruna also called on the media to assist the company in providing the desired service for the public.
