National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has threatens to shutdown power and water supply to state institutions and enterprises that are in default of arrears owed to the company.
Baba Fatajo, the managing director NAWEC stressed that the company has no other choice than to cut power supply to institutions that owe his company.
He said his company has tried all ways to recover millions of dalasi from defaulters which has proved to no avail and the best possible option is to cut off their power and electricity supply.
In 2017, the Company says state own enterprises and parastatals are owing more than D400million arrears and these situations; it says have a negative bearing in the overall distribution and expansion of electricity and water in the country.
“We are neither philanthropist nor a charitable organisation and we cannot continue to supply power to institutions that are not committed to paying our bills,” Nawec MD disclosed.
Mr. Fatajo further disclosed that it is not in the tradition of his company to name and put to shame the defaulters but the company is on the brink of swaying away from long held tradition, adding that these defaulters are impeding the works of the company at the detriment of national interest.
He cited that the case of two state companies that owes Nawec more than D120million without any assurance that they will pay.
. “We can’t continue to supply institutions and parastatals that have no interest to pay their bills, this is not sustainable to Nawec as well as the country,” Fatajo stressed.
He said his company have been exercising understanding with some of these institutions but have now come to the point that they cannot bear the load any longer and the institutions that are at default must come forth and pay all arrears due to Nawec before the end of year if they are to be spared.
MD Fatajo also outlined plans by his company to expand the electricity and power supply across the country. He disclosed that over 7megawatts power is currently under utilized due largely to funding in expanding the distribution and supply facilities, adding that Nawec has secured $66m funding from partners aimed at providing access to electricity.
He said another $151 is earmarked to addressing the country’s water and electricity supply to a 24hrs service uninterrupted.
He warns that all the projects earmarked by Nawec will be futile if companies especially state institutions are not paying their bills, adding that no company will be spared as far as this new company measures are concerned.
Author :Kebba Ansu Manneh