.jpeg)
Patrick Kelechi, Lagos
DAILY COURIER – The Eko Distribution Company (EKEDC) has disconnected the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, from the power supply over indebtedness to the company.
Public tertiary Institutions in Nigeria, notably Federal varsities, have recently cried out over their inability to meet up with financial obligation on electricity use on campus since they were moved to Band-A Consumers.
UNILAG, which used to pay between N150 million and N180 million monthly electricity bills is now being served (as at June) a bill that is almost N300 million per month.
The university management in a statement on Wednesday, appealed for understanding over the total blackout on Campus since Tuesday.
According to the management, the university has just paid the sum of N180 million to EKEDC but was abruptly cut off from the electricity supply on Tuesday, August 27, without prior notice of disconnection and despite still engaging with the management of the company.
UNILAG said, “It engaged the management of EKEDC in talks over the exorbitant June bill and made it clear consistently to the company that it would prefer to remain on Band B tariff as it wouldn’t be able to afford bills generated on Band A tariff.”
The university also declared that it would not be able to pay anything more than N180 million monthly as there is nowhere to raise the amount higher than that.
“But within two weeks of this meeting, we were slammed with a bill of almost half a billion (N472m), for July further increasing our debt burden! “We kept to our word and ensured we paid the N180 million on the 20th of August but on the 27th of August without any prior notice, EKEDC disconnected the university and refused to re-connect it to the national grid.
“Despite the foregoing, management regrets the situation and is taking necessary steps to address the issue.
“In the meantime, members of the university community are kindly enjoined to remain calm and note that there will be a rationing of power supply across campus until further notice.
“The schedule of rationing will be released so that members of the community can adequately plan”, it added.
