AEDC count losses, residents threaten protest as Abuja council area faces prolonged blackout

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, may be going through a trying moment following the shut down of electricity supply to Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

Bwari Area Council is one of the largest council areas in Abuja and boasts of areas like Kubwa, Dutse, Gwarinpa, Sokale, Ushafa, Bwari, Jiigo, Pambara, Usma Dam, and a host of other areas.

The council area plays host to major federal agencies of government including the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board, JAMB, headquarters and the Nigerian Law School.

The main issue

Insider source who spoke to DAILY POST on the power situation at the area council revealed that the entire council area was in perpetual darkness due to a faulty circuit breakers at the Kubwa transmission station, lamenting that billions of Naira was lost daily to the situation that has lingered for almost two weeks already.

He said the situation was further compounded by some bureaucratic elements in government, stating that in a modern climes, “it shouldn’t take one hour to replace a circuit breaker.

“I’m wondering what is actually going on. It’s not even that the transformer at the station is faulty. It’s just the circuit breaker that is faulty. Assuming it was the transformer, how long shall we wait before power would be restored.

“The system is full with some bureaucratic elements and incompetent people who know nothing about the job they are given to handle. And please don’t tell me it has nothing to do with incompetence. It has everything to do with it.

“It’s all about putting a square peg in a round hole. We are doomed as a nation. Imagine throwing over 10 million people into darkness for days and we all walk about as if all is well. This is a jungle truly.”

But a staff of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, who spoke anonymously admitted that the circuit breaker was actually the issue.

He, however, denied that TCN was overwhelmed. He said efforts were being made to ensure power is restored as soon as possible.

When told to be particular about when power would be restored, he said they had applied for funds which should come directly from the CBN for the purchase and replacement of the circuit breaker.

“Yes, we are working tirelessly. Power would be restored.”

Speaking on the several efforts made to restore power, he said they had connected the affected area to NDIA circuit breaker, “but seems overloaded and trips off intermittently. I’m sure our customers must have noticed that effort.”

Residents count losses, threaten actions

Chief James Ojobo, a resident of Dutse Alhaji told DAILY POST that residents’ patience has been overstretched and that very soon many of them will embark on a protest to demand for their right to stable electricity having being metered and as genuine tax payers.

“This government should stop playing with our intelligence. What is going on? How do you abandon a people to this deteriorating level? Imagine what we have all last these past weeks. Food, meat and other perishables are gone under this tough economy.

“I’m not sure we are going to just sit back and fold our arms helplessly. We will rise in protest in a couple of days.”

Also speaking, Hon. Emeka Ohaeri, Chairman Pmagbe Land Lords Association told DAILY POST that he has been at the receiving end of the current power situation as he receives calls from residents every second on the power situation.

“To some of them, the issue should be what I can address. I made several effort to see how we can help but both the AEDC and the TCN have been so economical with the truth.

“I got information that they are likely to resolve the current situation today or tomorrow. I hope they do so quickly to avert what I perceive as a looming protest.

“Imagine JAMB, Law School, Veritas, DSS training school and other important government agencies being thrown into this kind of blackout. Just imagine what small scale businesses have lost. What about perishables in refrigerators. This must not continue to linger.”

Effort to reach Bwari branch of AEDC failed as we were told there is a change in management of the office. Effort to reach Engineer Bolaji, the known Area Manager of the branch failed as he did not take calls.

Earlier, AEDC had issued a statement, blaming the blackout on a technical fault at the 33kV Bwari feeder, saying that TCN team were working tirelessly to restore power.

The statement was issued on May 8, but the situation has remained the same without further official explanation from either the AEDC or the TCN.

Tension has continued to mount over likely protest in the area council as residents claim they have now run out of patience.

AEDC count losses, residents threaten protest as Abuja council area faces prolonged blackout