11th May, 2012
Electricity consumers in Suleja, Niger, and its environs are owing the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) N1.3 billion, the company’s Business Manager in the area, Mr. Pope Shima, has said.
Shimatold newsmen in Suleja on Thursday that the debt had adversely affected the operations of the company in power supply in the area.
According to him, the residential customers owe N900 million, state and local governments; N120 million, commercial consumers; N115 million, industries; N80 million, and government agencies, N26 million.
“No business company can deliver with this high debt profile because the company needs to improve its services to the customers. This amount is for the already consumed energy; and we need the payment so that we can improve services; that is why we have been sensitising the public on the importance of bill settlement,” he said.
He called on the customers to pay their bills promptly, adding that the curfew imposed on Suleja and its environs had also drastically affected the revenue generation of the company.
Shima solicited for the support from traditional and religious leaders as well as vigilance groups to assist in sensitising the public on the need to protect PHCN installations.
“Vandalism has nearly crippled the operation of the company in this zone. “