By Etta Michael Bisong
Abuja
The residents of Jikwoyi Phase 1 Extension have threatened to institute a N10 billion legal action against the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) for negligently throwing the entire community into total darkness and subjecting its people to insecurity as well as other forms of huge economic loses that are highly detrimental to growth of the area.
Speaking under the umbrella of Jikwoyi Landlords Association (JLA), the residents have also issued an ultimatum within seven days to embark on public protest if proper measures are not ensured to curb the ugly situation.
Chairman of the Association, Sir Rufus Ebegba, told journalists in Abuja that the small community which is under the jurisdiction of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has been experiencing blackout since over one week after the last of the three electricity transformers in the area finally broke down.
The chairman lamented that his Association has written several letters to the electricity distribution authority requesting for two additional 500KVA transformers but never got any form of acknowledgement or feedback from the company. He said the AEDC has resisted all attempts by his members to explore possible measures to avert the pathetic incident before deteriorating to its present state.
“We put this problem squarely on the doorstep of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company because we have notified them that these transformers were been over burdened and there is need for two relief transformers,” Sir Ebegba said. “But they never responded to our communications neither did they provide these transformers.”
The group’s leader stated that the increasing influx of people into the neighbourhood actually is responsible for the current crisis, which informed the community’s application for additional transformers to help ease pressure on the existing ones.
He hinted that the community provided the three damaged transformers and has maintained all electricity facilities in the area including cables and poles since over 10 years without any form of support.
While commending various initiatives to provide electricity across the country, he urged the federal government to investigate activities of the AEDC to prevent it from sabotaging meaningful efforts to provide citizens with adequate power supply.
“We are using this forum to give AEDC seven days ultimatum and if they fail, we have no other option but to seek necessary legal measures to secure our rights and privileges. The AEDC must after seven days refund the sum of N10 billion for our economic damages and exposing us to insecurity,” he said.
Head of Public Relations and Media, AEDC, Ahmed Shekarau, when contacted by Blueprint acknowledged the various letters written by the Association and urged them to exercise patience while the company resolves the matter.
He disclosed that over 200 transformers are presently on ground to be distributed which the affected area is listed among the beneficiaries, and urged them to restrain from the proposed protest and legal action so as not to compound the matter.