PHCN Seek To Recover N3.3b Debt

The Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN Minna Business District, is set to collect N3.3 billion debt owed by its customers, Alhaji Garba Madani, the company’s Business Manager, has said.

Madani told newsmen in Minna, Niger State on Tuesday that consumers in the district had failed to pay their bills despite repeated appeals for them to do so.

He condemned consumers who refused to settle their bills on time, adding that non-payment of such bills had constrained the efforts of the company to meet its obligations to consumers.

“All I know is that nobody should enjoy electricity without paying his bill; while some people respond positively, a large segment of consumers, especially those who reside in residential buildings have resisted appeals to settle their bills.

“Our record indicates that customers residing in residential buildings are owing PHCN more than N3.3 billion, the state government which is also owing us, is cooperating to settle its arrears of debt,” he said.

Madani warned that the district would soon embark on mass disconnection of defaulters to compel them to settle their bills.

On the epileptic power supply in the district, Madani said the situation was not peculiar to the district and attributed the problem to the collapse of the system at Shiroro transmission station.

He said the district required 80 Megawatts to meet the daily electricity needs of its consumers in the district.

He said that presently 15 Megawatts were being supplied, a situation he said had compelled the management to embark on massive load shedding, to stay afloat.

Madani who, however, assured consumers of the company’s readiness to improve its services, urged them to reciprocate the gesture by paying their bills regularly.

He also urged them to report any fault for prompt attention and repairs.