KADUNA ELECTRIC NEWSLETTER MAY 1ST EDITION

Nigerian Custom Pledges Prompt Payment of Electricity Bills

The Custom Area Comptroller in charge of Sokoto, Zamfara Command, Comptroller Musa Omale, has pledged to ensure that all officers and men of Nigerian Custom Service residing in the Customs Barrack, Sokoto pays their electricity bills as at when due.

The Customs Comptroller made the pledge while receiving the Chief Regional Officer Sokoto, Kebbi and
Zamfara, Mr Sunday O. Yahaya and his Management team who paid him a courtesy visit.

Mr Sunday Yahaya had during the visit drew the attention of the Comptroller to huge unpaid electricity bills in the barracks and that, some meters installed in the barracks are compromised.

He informed the Comptroller that, Kaduna Electric, as the last layer in the value chain, has obligation to other players in the electricity market which must be discharged every month.

He also briefed the Custom boss of the recent happenings in the sector which led the TCN to disconnect some feeders in Kaduna, all as a result of nonpayment of electricity by customers which contributed to the Company’s inability to meet its market obligation.

According to him, "just as our customers are expected to settle their electricity bills every month, we are equally obligated to pay for the energy supplied to us and transmission services every month to other players in the value chain."

The Chief Regional Officer thanked the Comptroller for the prompt payment of their office bill which he acknowledged is on credit and for the warm reception and promised to sustain the existing cordial working relationship between the two organisation.

In his response, the Comptroller said, he is unaware of such and instruct the Custom Military Officer and the Officer In-charge of electricity in the barrack to make sure staff are paying their bills promptly and desist from any illegality and, anyone found culpable should be dealt with accordingly.

Comptroller Musa Omale, however handed a note of warning to all Officers of the Command that, staffs of Kaduna Electric should be granted access to carry out their duties in the barrack. He urged the officer to sensitize the staff in the barrack.

The Comptroller further inform the Chief Regional Officer that, they have already sent their request to the headquarters for purchase of prepaid meters only waiting for the approval and thank Kaduna Electric Management for the timely visit.

 

Kaduna Electric Engages Traditional Rulers

In its continued effort aimed at fostering greater understanding with the customers, Kaduna Electricity engaged traditional rulers at the Corporate Headquarters of Kaduna Electric.  

In his welcome address, the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Ocholi Ausa, who stood in for the Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Yusuf Usman Yahaya contended that the aim of the engagement is to bring all concerned to tune with the reality of the Nigerian Electricity Industry and enlighten the customers on the operations of Kaduna Electric and also discuss issues of common interests.

Mr. Ocholi Ausa, appealed to traditional rulers to educate their subjects on the importance of payment of electricity bills and the negative effects of illegal activities such meter by-pass illegal connection energy theft among others and warmed that the Company shall not hesitate to bring to justice anybody found committing any of the established electricity offences.

“The Company is doing a lot to ensure improved service delivery but the response to payment of bills by electricity users has remained unimpressive which according to him is making it difficult for Kaduna Electric to discharge its obligations to other stakeholders in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Market.

The Chief Marketing and Revenue Assurance Engr. Asmau Salisu Ahmed explained the challenges the Company is facing and called on the community to live up to their side of the bargain.

“The Company has a monthly obligation of about 7billion Naira to the Nigerian electricity market until our customers learn to pay their bills as at when due, we shall not be able to meet up our obligations to the market and this will surely affect our ability to provide efficient service”, she contended. 

The traditional rulers stressed that the organization should improve on the customer relations, capability and performance of its staff which they said should be done through giving staff training in accordance with industry’s best practice and procedure.

They appealed to the company to take their responsivity serious “the Company should do justice for the customers in terms of billing efficiency, repairs of electricity infrastructures etc.

They applauded the Company for initiating the engagement and suggest that such meetings should be made a regular event.

 

Kebbi Regional Manager Visits Kebbi State CP, Calls for Police Support in Dealing with Electricity Offences

The Regional Manager, Kebbi Regional Office, Mr. Gaddafi Ibrahim Saminaka paid a courtesy visit to the newly posted Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Lawal Abubakar Daura in his office.

Mr. Gaddafi stated that the reason for his visit to the Police Boss was to intimate him on the current electricity happenings in the state and to also seek for the support of his good office.

He however disclosed to the Police Commissioner the threats and security challenges his staff are facing from some groups of individuals within the state metropolis while discharging their duties, and that hinders the operations of the Company in the state capital.

According to Mr. Gaddafi another issue facing the Kebbi Region is low payment from customers as some of the customers are so reluctant in terms of responding to bills payment.

“In some situations, you will see a customer been billed 13,000 naira as monthly energy charged, but instead you see him paying just 5,000 out of 13,000 leaving behind 8,000 naira as debt, and that is bedeviling the performance of the company as a whole”, he added.

While responding the Commissioner of Police Kebbi State Command, CP Lawal Abubakar Daura welcomed and thanked the Regional Manager and his team for paying him a courtesy call.

The courtesy call is a headway in strengthening the good relationship that has been there between the two organizations, Kaduna Electric as a sole distributor of electricity is playing a very important role in development and socioeconomic activities, and also a key player in curbing security challenges in the state.

As a critical stakeholder we will continue to work hand in hand as partners in progress, we have received some reports of security challenges you are faced with. Let me assure you that under my watch as the Commissioner of Police Kebbi, we will give you all the necessary support you required, we will not allow impunity and disruption of peace, law and order in the state, he said.

He further charged the Regional Manager to put more emphasis on community engagement and general public enlightenment on the current development and the operations of the company.