Residents of Kurudu, Orozo, and Karshi—communities on the outskirts of Abuja—are currently battling a severe electricity crisis.
For over two months, these areas, under the coverage of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, have faced unstable power supply, leaving both residents and business owners struggling.
Several Abuja residents who spoke with our correspondent described the situation as deeply frustrating, with some saying they receive electricity for barely 30 seconds in an entire day.
Others lamented that brief, inconsistent power at night is often followed by excessively high estimated bills at the end of the month.
Miss Jennifer, a hairdresser based in Kurudu, also shared the challenges she has encountered in trying to keep her business running amid the ongoing power shortage.
“It has been very challenging. Sometimes, I can’t even operate for a few hours because I have to rely on fuel for my generator, which now costs N1,300 per litre. It’s becoming almost impossible to keep the business running,” she lamented.
Similarly, Mr. Ogidi, a welder in the community, shared his frustrations:
“How can I work properly when electricity comes for just a few seconds and goes off again? I have lost so many jobs because I cannot predict when the power will be on.”
For Mrs Udoka, who operates a cold room, the power outage has forced a temporary closure of her business.
“I had to shut down because running a generator at over N1,000 per litre of fuel is unsustainable. It’s affecting my income and the storage of perishable goods,” she said.
Kazeem, a local laundry operator, added, “We sometimes see the light for like 1 minute, and then it’s gone. How are we supposed to survive under these conditions?”
The story is no different in neighboring Mararaba Loko in Nasarawa State, where residents say electricity is a rare luxury.
Mrs Chidera, a tailor in the area, said: “We barely see light here; it comes once in a blue moon. It is impossible to plan anything, and businesses are suffering.
“Sometimes we barely have light for a few seconds in a day, yet your prepaid meter is reading fast as if we’ve been using electricity non-stop.
“It doesn’t make sense, and it’s putting more pressure on people who are already struggling to survive.”
Responding to the complaints, AEDC acknowledged the problem via its official social media platforms.
The company apologized for the inconvenience and assured residents that the situation was not deliberate.
“We understand that the power supply situation in Kurudu community has been abysmal recently, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.
“Kindly be assured that this is not deliberate. Power supply will be normalized in the area once the allocation improves,” the statement read.
Abuja residents, however, are calling for urgent and immediate action, stressing that two months of near-total power deprivation is unsustainable for households and businesses alike.
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