Residents of Abuja and Nasarawa have been left in darkness as a two-week power outage announced by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) takes effect. The blackout, which started on Monday, January 6, 2025, has affected homes and businesses, leading to losses worth billions of Naira.
AEDC and TCN explained that the power disruption is due to the relocation of the 33KV DC Airport Feeder and the 132KV Kukwaba-Apo Transmission Line Towers along the Outer Southern Motorway. This infrastructure upgrade aims to improve the power network in the region. However, the companies noted that load shedding or rationing would be applied to minimize the impact.
Despite these claims, many residents report total blackouts across listed areas, including Kapwa, Apo, Kubwa, Nyanya, Karu, and Keffi. Other areas, such as Utako, Dawaki, and Dutse, which were not listed, are also experiencing outages.
The announcement has been met with outrage. Residents and business owners have criticized AEDC and TCN for poor planning and failing to provide alternative power sources.
Mabel Michael, a resident of Kubwa, expressed her frustration:
“It is irresponsible of AEDC not to have planned better for this. How are we supposed to preserve perishables for two weeks?”
Similarly, Benjamin Eze, a trader, decried the high cost of buying fuel for his generator:
“This is disgraceful. There should have been a better alternative to avoid such a prolonged outage.”
Kunle Olubiyo, President of the Nigerian Consumer Protection Network, criticized the lack of proper planning for the project. He pointed out that TCN could have used “stringing” to maintain power during the relocation process.
“In the 21st century, this level of negligence is unacceptable. A proper plan would have ensured minimal disruption,” he stated.
In an exclusive interview, AEDC Acting Managing Director, Chijioke Okwuokenye, acknowledged the challenges and assured residents that measures are in place to mitigate the impact. He mentioned load-shedding arrangements to provide limited power supply to affected areas during off-peak hours.
“There is no intention to keep customers in complete darkness for 14 days. We are working on alternative arrangements to ensure everyone gets some power,” he explained.
Okwuokenye also hinted at possible compensation for customers under Band A feeders, in collaboration with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The blackout has also led to significant revenue losses for AEDC and businesses in affected areas. Traders, shop owners, and service providers relying on electricity are facing severe financial strain due to the high cost of running generators.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has promised to engage AEDC and TCN to explore solutions. His spokesperson, Bolaji Tunji, acknowledged the revenue losses for the electricity providers but emphasized the need for a more proactive approach.
As residents continue to endure the blackout, AEDC urges customers to report local faults and remain patient as efforts are made to restore power. For businesses and households, this situation highlights the urgent need for better infrastructure planning and reliable energy solutions.
