Embarrassing…National Arts Theatre disconnected from power grid for 9m debt

This so shameful, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise. This is Nigeria.

The National Arts Theatre in Lagos, Nigeria, has been disconnected from the Nigerian power grid for massive debt it owes the power distributor.

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDC) carried out the disconnection on Sunday over a N9m debt owed it by the facility, plunging the theatre into total darkness.

Mr Idemudia Godwin, General Manger, Media Communications of EKEDC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they were forced to carry out the action after their numerous warnings for the debt to be settled weren’t complied with.

“We don’t disconnect without serving notice.” he said.

“Besides, we recently ran a newspaper advertisement informing all ministries, departments and parastatal agencies (MDAs)of government that were indebted to EKEDC of our intention to disconnect them.

“We have commenced disconnection of all historic debtors that include: residential, commercial, industrial and government establishments within our network,’’ he added.

Mr Godwin went on to list several more companies indebted to the power distributor, debts running into billions of naira.

Government, which is actually supposed to ensure the smooth running of  Nigeria’s power distributor, is actually the biggest obstacle standing in its path. Massive debt from government does more to curtail their revenue than anyone else, and ludicrously, the problem is sometimes taken out on the citizens with the implementation of exorbitant tax hikes – when government is actually the real problem.