Kaduna Electric Partners NUJ On Sustainable Power Supply

—To roll-out 80,000 meters now & 1 million in 3 years

—Assures of 12-20 hours of light daily

By Frederick Peters, KADUNA.

The Kaduna Electric Distribution Company( KEDC) is collaborating with the Nigeria Union of Journalists,Kaduna State council to ensure sustainable electricity supply in the state.

They emphasized the need for steady power supply,mass metering and the need for consumers to pay their bills to ensure service delivery and sustainability.

This was made known at the Interactive Forum with Journalists in Kaduna,on Wednesday, in reaction to public outcry on the recent increase on electricity tariff in the country.

Speaking the Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, Kaduna Electric, Alhaji Garba Haruna,said the interative forum is necessary because the media is a critical stakeholder hence the need to support each other

According to him,because the level of our understanding differ “the Media has a key role to play interms of sensitization by having different means of conveying messages in such a way that those who are not in the full picture will be able to know what the sector is all about

” it is impossible for you to operate when certain information are delivered in an asymmetry form,so it is important to mention the facts as it is without any ambiguity,which this kind of forum will normally address; it’s a collaboration, because you are a stakeholder “he stressed

He further said by Friday the company will be rolling out 80,000 meters to households in Kaduna and a target of I million meters installed within the span of 3 years “so we are coming out with schedule of communities that will have their meters installed”he said

While reacting to the concerns of Nigerians and public outcry on the increase in electricity tariff,supply challenges faced by citizens couple with the economic downturn in the country,

The company boss,said it is done to ensure sustainable service as the era of subsidies and free electricity are over, considering the fact that they also have bills to pay to be in business.

He further noted “our responsibility is to ensure that we deliver 12,16 and 20 hours of electricity in a day,that is why in our initiative, we want to ensure that all lines that are delivering electricity/power are metered” “the reason why it needs to be metered is because we also have bills which needs to be paid” he added

He explained that the meters may not be paid for before installation,but that the company will work out modalities of dealing with the payment.While assuring the forum that the customers are carried along in their day to day activity and decision making.

Responding the Vice Chairman,NuJ Kaduna state council, Comrade Mohammed Sabiu,said there’s no doubt that electricity/power sector is a critical sector in the Nigerian economy, adding that, as rightly pointed out ” we are all stakeholders,

” so the media,as one of the major critical stakeholders will continue to play our part very well to ensure that electricity in Nigeria is supplied 24 hours a day ”

Speaking further,he appreciated the company for the Partnership/collaboration and for believing in the Media.