By Dipo Olowookere
Electricity supply to the National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos, has been disconnected by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
According to the electricity firm, it disconnected the National Theatre after all appeals to the management to pay the accumulated bill of N12 million debts proved abortive.
According to the General Manger, Corporate Communications of EKEDC, Mr Godwin Idemudia, electricity to the National Theatre would be restored if the management paid part of the debt.
Meanwhile, a senior official of the complex, who did not want his name mentioned, said that the management would pay the bill as soon it received its allocation.
He said the management could not pay from of its generated revenue because “the money into the Treasury Single Account as directed by the Federal Government.”
He, however, assured that the management would pay part of the bill soon.
Due to the development, traders at the complex have started complaining of low patronage.
They said many of their customers had stopped coming since the power outage started more than two weeks ago.
“Each of us spends more N1,500 daily to buy iced block to chill drinks.
“The darkness at the theatre has paralysed our businesses; no customer is willing to eat or take a hot drink,” one of the traders said. They appealed to the National Theatre management to pay part of the debt so that power supply would be restored to the complex.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Adedapo Adesanya