Sad Tale: Apathetic Electricity Distribution Within the #Abuja Municipal!

Dotun Roy

Although Power sector in the Nigeria has suffered set back and mismanagement for so many years, which has been linked to several socio-economic woes and challenges in the country, forcing millions of Nigerians trying to adapt and adjust to the epileptic power distribution and supply as well as resorting to poisonous emission from generating sets causing deadly pollution and most times accompanying with unbearable noises at the backyard/ premises of virtually every house you visit in the major urban and rural centers.

Grudgingly, parlance such as “I pass my neighbour” “portable gen” referring to small imported China generating sets for those who could not afford bigger and probably noiseless ones became popular and part our daily lives, overnight. This situation is tougher on bussiness persons who solely rely on electricity to carry out their daily bussiness activities. The agony of power: its supply, distribution and failure is such that all Nigerians both the rich and poor can relate to.

While compiling this story I had a lot running through my mind and I had planned to be very brutal with the use of words particularly towards the so called Electricity Distributing Agency in Abuja referring to themselves as Abuja Electricity Distributing Company (AEDC) but I would rather use this blog as a note of warning for them to wake up from their slumber. And prove themselves worthy of the responsibility that is solely theirs. If they are still willing to continue distributing electricity as they claim.

My encounter with AEDC myself since it took over Electricity distribution in Abuja, was a case of deceit and rip off. Yet, they lack the will to deliver efficient services to their consumers. Several reports have reached me from Lugbe, FHA and Trademore Estate along Airport Road, all these are within the Abuja Municipal. There have been similar complaints of inefficiency from Kuje Area Council and Bwari Area Council axis such as Kubwa and Dawaki.

The sort of mistreatment Abuja consumers receive on daily basis in the hands of this unscrupulous company requires urgent and swift intervention. Currently, countless Electric Transformers in Lugbe District in Abuja Municipal are no longer functioning. They are completely out of whack leaving thousands of residents in total black-out.

According to a reliable source, Lugbe District Spokesperson said several efforts have been made to reach the Zone Director, AEDC so as to discuss the lasting solution to this recurring Transformer problems. “We have tried all avenues to make sure these people listen to our plight here in Lugbe yet they turned deaf ears, he said. We have been in darkness for the past 6 months as a result of the incessant faulty Transformers which is often caused by the negligence of the part of AEDC. All they know is to come threatening people with Bills and disconnection. We need Federal Government to step into this case, He lamented.

Listening to such stories as this makes one sad. It is a tale of sheer inequality, cheat, abuse, insensitivity, partial neglect and citizens’ denial of their rights and access to basic infrastructures that are originally meant to be enjoyed by them.

This is one story that I ought to have released before now but I had waited till now thinking the concerned investors in the power sector would have deemed it fit to correct this horrific situation; their mistake and inaction towards electricity distribution and supply within Abuja.

All Abuja residents demand a stop to all these insensitivity and apathetic attitude to service by AEDC Now!