“Unbearable: Nigerians Rage as Abuja Faces Two Weeks of Darkness”
There’s outrage in Nigeria as most part of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Nasarawa have all gone dark on day one of the two weeks scheduled electricity supply disruption by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company and the Transmission Company of Nigeria.
Residents and business people complain that losses running into billions of naira have started as soon as the blackout begins.
Three days ago, Naijaeyes reported that AEDC had put a two-week blackout which took effect from Monday, 6 January 2025. This has also been reinforced by TCN’s announcement.
The outage according to both AEDC and TCN is an outcome of relocating the 33KV DC Airport Feeder and the 132KV Kukwaba-Apo Transmission Line Towers along the Outer Southern Motorway.
However, TCN stated that the new development will cause power shedding or rationing.
AEDC, TCN stated, will carry out the power load shedding or power rotation on the following areas: Kapwa, NNPC, Games Village, National Stadium, Eye Clinic, Indoor Complex, Christ Embassy Church, American International School, Spring Court, American Embassy Quarters, EFCC HQ, Coca Cola, Railway, FMC, and parts of Apo.
Among the other locations affected by the outage are parts of Gudu; Gbazango & environs; parts of Kubwa, Bwari & environs; parts of Jahi; parts of Jabi; Karu, Nyanya, Mararaba, and Keffi & environs.
Besides the above listing which constitutes the mentioned areas undergoing a total blackout as opposed to what TCN and AEDC claim, a circle around Abuja gathered other places in darkness.
Other places in darkness but not stated in AEDC’s list of affected areas are Utako, parts of Dawaki, and Dutse.
Nigerians Blame AEDC for Irresponsibility
There was fury among the electricity users within the locality.
“Its irresponsibility on the part of AEDC not to have sought a feasible option during these two weeks of power outage,” lamented Mabel Michael, a resident of Kubwa.
“Indeed, I’m amazed at how we will cope with things, especially perishables. AEDC is irresponsible,” she said.
According to Benjamin Eze, a UTC trader, he spends a lot on buying fuel for his generator due to the blackout.
“Honestly, I suspect it’s some disgrace that we still hear about such things in Nigeria. There would have been other alternatives,” he said.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with DAILY POST on Monday, Kunle Olubiyo, the President of the Nigerian Consumer Protection Network, said he was a victim of AEDC, calling it shameful and disheartening.
He went on to state that it was practically unimaginable for the 21st century to involve relocation without a proper stringing plan in place.
That is why he said that TCN would have used planned stringing which can be done within a day or two days.
“Honestly it is shameful disheartening and unbelievable that in the 21st century we have thrown caution to the wind as far as developmental planning of infrastructure goes.
“It is not done anywhere where there is relocation without proper stringing. What would have been done is stringing.
“You have an existing network; you make another location; then you string from X to Y. Abuja is a planned city and nothing comes by accident.
“We all agree network expansion is not commensurate with urban growth.
“Stringing can be done within a day or two.
“We have received several messages from womenfolk outside businesses.
“Those major concerns are those that have perishable items that cannot withstand…
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