Zamfara Government Settles Debt with Kaduna Electric Distribution Company
The Zamfara Government has settled a debt of N1 billion naira owed to the Kaduna Electric Distribution Company (KEDCO). The government also expanded the mandates of the newly established Zamfara Electrification Agency (ZEA) to include improving power supply to unserved and underserved communities in the state.
Background and Impact of the Debt
The pioneer Executive Secretary of ZEA, Muzammil Idris, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gusau, on Thursday. Idris said that Gov. Dauda Lawal’s administration has freed the state from the debt which always stood as an obstacle to the expected rapid development of government activities for the betterment of the state economy. He said that lack of energy in the state had affected the key sectors of development such as Health, Education, Security and Agriculture, adding that these sectors were considered as integral part of economic development in any society.
Plans for Electrification
According to him, a 10-year working plan and implementation strategy has already been drafted by the agency. “The immediate plan on my table from the main draft is to ensure restoration of energy across the 14 local government areas of the state. I am to also ensure that places that have not been on the national grid are connected within three months. I had a meeting with the Chairman, Kaduna Electricity Governing Board, and we looked into taking possible measures to restore power supply across the state. That gave me an opportunity to constitute a committee for assessment and implementation of the said planned electrification project for the benefiting communities.
Implementation and Revenue Generation
After the completion of the project, my agency will ensure implementation of the national metering policy, to help sanitise both the electrification services and the revenue generation by the KEDCO.
Conclusion
The settlement of the debt and the expansion of the ZEA’s mandates are significant steps towards improving the power supply in Zamfara state. The agency’s plans to restore energy across the state and connect unserved communities to the national grid are expected to have a positive impact on the state’s economy and development.
FAQs
- What is the amount of debt settled by the Zamfara Government with KEDCO?
The Zamfara Government settled a debt of N1 billion naira owed to KEDCO. - What are the key sectors of development affected by the lack of energy in the state?
The key sectors of development affected by the lack of energy in the state are Health, Education, Security, and Agriculture. - What is the timeline for connecting places that have not been on the national grid?
The agency plans to connect places that have not been on the national grid within three months. - What policy will be implemented after the completion of the electrification project?
The national metering policy will be implemented after the completion of the electrification project to help sanitise both the electrification services and the revenue generation by the KEDCO.
