By Awaal Gata
the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are rarely supplied with up to six hours of power in a day, residents have lamented.
The areas in question are Karu, Gwagwalada, Dutse, Kuje, Bwari and Kubwa.
The situation was the same in November and December last year, but the residents said their was a significant improvement between January and April.
Residents, who spoke with Blueprint, said electricity had dropped significantly over the last two months, adding that the situation has become “worrisome and catastrophic.”
Madam Bisi Mutiu, a resident of Kubwa, said the drop started some seven weeks ago in the area, adding that the last three weeks have been the worse.
According to her, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) had not explained the cause of the situation to the residents, and it is their right to know because they pay bills.
“We don’t see light in Kubwa again; it started since May. We don’t know what is responsible, and the AEDC has not said anything. We deserve to know because we are paying for it. The annoying thing is, no light and they keep bringing bills,” Madam Bisi lamented.
She added that: “Life is now difficult here because of the situation. Our businesses are crumbling due to the light problem. It is a situation that increases our expenses.”
Ibrahim Musa, a resident of Gwagwalada, also complained that electricity supply in the town has dropped. According to him, the town is usually having “light problem but it is worse since May.”
He added that: “Light is very important and you can’t compare it with generator light. I want to plead with the AEDC that is now in charge of our area to do something about it and quickly too, so we can return to our normal life.”
The situation is similar in Bwari, as a resident who simply gave his name as Isyaku, said “even the starting of Ramadan fast did not compel the AEDC to start giving us light.”
Isyaku lamented that: “We pay our bills regularly but we do iftar and sahur in darkness and business people in Bwari are losing because of lack of light. They better explain to us or pay back our monies.”
However, in Karu, residents said the situation was worse because at times the town spends three days without power.
“If other areas get six hours or so daily, they should thank God, because we spend three days here sometimes without power. Power failure is now in our psyche, so we all have our generators, but they should stop bringing bills,” a resident, who pleaded for anonymity, complained.
Another resident, Amina Auta, said: “because there is no light, prices of things are doubled by the sellers; and you know that is very very bad.”\ Responding, Mr Mumini Ibro, a staff of AEDC, said the drop “has been because of the rainy season. Nigerians should know how rain storms wreck havoc on power plants because it didn’t start this year.
“The season is causing a lot of problem but we are on top of the situation, and positive result will come after few weeks.”
