As parts of its efforts to assist the government in the fight against COVID-19, the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) said it has suspended electricity disconnections of consumers indefinitely until the pandemic is over.

According to Daily Trust, after speaking with KEDC ‘s spokesperson, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, on Monday, 20th April, during the donation of relief materials (food items) to the Kaduna state government by the DisCo, the company said disconnections has been suspended indefinitely.

Recall the electricity company hinted that it would commit N30 million to food donation to vulnerable people its area of franchise covering Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states.

Abdullahi said the gesture is aimed at supporting the government’s efforts at providing palliatives to residents of the state in order to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown.

He called on the members of the public to observe the necessary health protocols in order to collectively defeat the virus.

The spokesman assured Kaduna residents of stable power supply throughout the lockdown to enable stay at home comfortable.

The food items were received by the permanent, secretary-general services, Office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mohammed Bashir Umar.

Moreso, in a bid to bring ease to Nigerians amid coronavirus lockdown, the federal government said it has approved the payment of N200 billion to improve gas supply to the power Generation Companies (GenCos).

Mele Kyari, the group managing director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), made this known on Wednesday, 15th April, after meeting with the Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman and the managing director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Usman Gur Mohammed.

Kyari noted that the priority of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is to bring comfort to Nigerians especially during the lockdown period, hence the decision to boost the power plants.

He stressed that the N200 billion and other payment-related issues have been resolved, adding that Nigerians during the lockdown period will have no problem with adequate power supply.

“The federal government has made payment of over N200 billion for power in the two or three days.”

“‘This will go a long way in making sure that those payment issues are resolved and we are engaging as government to make sure that those payment issues are fully settled,” the NNPC GMD said.

Recall that the federal government and Distribution Companies (DisCos) earlier agreed to provide free electricity for all Nigerians.

According to Barrister Sunday Oduntan, the executive director of research and advocacy at the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), on Wednesday, 8th April, this gesture is to last for two months.

Oduntan said that the offer is aimed at making “life easier, during the lockdown period. Details of implementation to come soon.”

He added that the DisCos are committed to aligning themselves with the National Assembly and the executive arm of the federal government which are both bent on coming up with more palliatives that will reduce the hardship of Nigerians at this difficult time.

KEDC