Call Eko disco to order, hotelier tells NERC

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has been asked to call the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) to order over unwarranted disconnection of electricity supply to Samwholly Guest Hotel, Surulere.

The manager of the hotel, Deborah Ogunbiyi, said that after several disagreements on over-billing with EKEDC, the hotel was migrated from a post-paid to pre-paid metre.

She claimed that rather than end the crisis, the Orile District Unit kept coming up with excuses for disconnecting the hotel, alleging there had been a by-pass. This, Ogunbiyi denied.

The latest issue, she said, led to the disconnection of the hotel for over two weeks. The hotel petitioned the headquarters of EKEDC. This led a delegation, independent of the Orile District Unit of EKEDC, to investigate the allegation. The team declared there had been no by-pass.

Ogunbiyi claimed that after the team left, she went to the head office for a follow-up, only to be told that the team claimed there had been a by-pass, contrary to what it said after the inspection.

She said she has a recording of when the team’s head announced the earlier finding.

When The Guardian called the head, EKEDC Enforcement Team, Paul Peters, he said he couldn’t comment. The Public Relations Officer, Godwin Idemudia, insisted there had been a by-pass. He said there was no truth to the hotel’s claim that there were conflicting reports.