Four key Federal ministries have been operating in darkness for the past two weeks following their disconnection from the public power supply because of a huge debt owed the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
The ministries are Science and Technology; Aviation; Youth Development; and Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Daily Trust learnt in Abuja yesterday
Also affected are the National Gallery of Art, as well as some offices under the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).
The power cut affects the Block E building in Phase One of the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, which houses the four ministries and a number of other agencies.
A spokesman for PHCN's Abuja Electricity Distribution Company confirmed to Daily Trust yesterday that power supply has been disconnected at the complex because of unpaid bills.
A Daily Trust reporter visited the Federal Secretariat building yesterday, noticing that most doors of offices on the 11th floor were open with workers using files to fan themselves because of heat as a result of the blackout.
Many workers were also seen sitting in the anterooms of the offices as the inner rooms were dark and hot.
A staff of one of the ministries who refused to reveal his name said: "The light problem started before Easter and up till now there is no sign of light at all and we have not even seen signs that someone is working on it."
On the seventh floor of the building where the maintenance unit is located, officials refused to speak with Daily Trust, saying as civil servants they were not allowed to talk to journalists.
"We have a problem as you can see which is very obvious. What else do you want from us?" one of them asked.
The third floor which houses the office of the Permanent Secretary (General Services Office), under the OHCSF, has power supply from a generator.
When contacted, public affairs manager of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Mr Debo Adegoke, confirmed to Daily Trust that the Federal Secretariat building was disconnected due to non-payment of electricity bills.
Source: Allafrica
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