Following the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company’s decision to cut off power supply to army barracks over a N47.1billion debt owed by various government agencies, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja has express worry over the consequences of a prolonged power cut.
He noted during a meeting with the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu in Abuja that some mortuaries within the army barracks have started to stink due to cut in power supply. According to Lt. General Lagbaja the barracks have been in cut off since January and this was taking its toll.
“Debt owed is loaded on the meter, so no matter the amount of credit we put, the meters pick it automatically. Corpses in the Army mortuaries are decomposing and the owners of the corpses are protesting,” said the Chief of Army Staff
“The army couldn’t raise funds to pay the entire debt, as he solicited liquidation as was done in 2005 by the then President.”
Responding, Mr. Adelabu promised to dialogue with the distribution companies to find a way out of the problem.
“We can only plead with them to adopt a repayment plan on a monthly basis instead of embedding the whole debt in their meter,” said the Minister of Power.
“The fundamental issues in the power sector value chain could be traced back to the last 50 years and a government which is barely eight months cannot use a magic wand to proffer solutions. There is a saying that you won’t know what is happening in Rome until you get to Rome,” he said.
