Residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), especially those inhabiting satellite areas, are increasingly voicing their dissatisfaction with the ongoing poor electricity supply affecting the region.
In interviews conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, many expressed that the continuous power outages are jeopardizing their business operations.
They highlighted that despite substantial investments made into the power sector, the expected improvements have not materialized.
As a result, they are urging the Federal Government to reconsider the initial privatization processes of the sector.
Mr. Augustine Okoro, a civil servant residing in the Pegi area of Kuje, mentioned the complete absence of electricity for nearly three days. "We have been in total darkness, affecting local businesses, especially those who rely on power," Okoro affirmed.
Another local resident added, "Typically, we experience power shortages lasting between three to four days. This is unacceptable, especially considering the considerable financial resources allocated to the power sector. My recommendation is that the government should reassess privatization as the current approach has yielded little success."
Mr. Idris Wada, who lives in the Piwoyi community along the Airport Road, reported that his neighborhood had been deprived of power for close to four days, stifling his sachet water and soft drink vending business.
"I cannot afford a generator, preventing me from continuing my trade. Despite the large sums designated for electricity in this country, our supply remains inadequate. The government must take necessary action," Wada lamented.
Okon Edem, a welder from Piwoyi, indicated he is compelled to purchase diesel daily to operate his generator, often working late at night to serve customers when power is occasionally restored.
Effects on Small Enterprises
The dire energy situation is similarly felt in Kubwa. Mrs. Ann Okotie, from the Biazhin area, shared that the supply has become highly erratic, threatening her cold room business. Previously, they would enjoy about eight hours of regular power supply, but that has drastically declined.
Mrs. Elizabeth Okunsun from Kubwa village echoed a similar sentiment, revealing that her area had experienced nearly a week without electricity.
"Even when power is available, it rarely lasts three hours. This has devastated small businesses leading to significant financial losses. I urge the government to look into this issue and, if feasible, revisit the privatization process to mitigate these problems," she stated.
Business owner Mr. Moses Aligbe from the Dawaki community also appealed to the authorities to investigate and address the underlying causes of the deficiencies affecting citizens’ sources of livelihood.
Response from AEDC
In light of these grievances, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has attributed the persistent poor power supply to limited energy deliverables from the national grid.
In an announcement made via its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Friday, the AEDC stated, "We understand the current low power supply and outages impacting our customers across various areas. While we strive to maintain consistent energy delivery, several locations are facing considerable disruptions due to constraints in energy supply from the grid."
The AEDC reassured clients that its technicians are closely monitoring the scenario in real-time and remain dedicated to restoring normal services as energy allocations improve. The company also expressed its apologies for the inconveniences experienced by both households and businesses, thanking Nigerians for their continued patience.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!