FCT residents threaten to occupy AEDC’s office over power outage

Residents of Jikwoyi Phase IV, a community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Monday threatened to occupy the office of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

They said the AEDC had yet to replace a faulty transformer, resulting in a two-week power outage.

The community disclosed this in a letter sent to AEDC Zone 4’s Managing Director, signed by the Landlords Association, Chairman, Mr. Kareem Bolakale Akeem.

They accused the AEDC of negligence and poor maintenance despite substantial revenue collection from the area.

The residents alleged that AEDC ignored numerous warnings and complaints about the deteriorating condition of the transformer due to oil leakage, overloading, and damaged uprisers.

The community called for the immediate replacement of the transformer, old uprisers, aluminum conductors, and wooden poles.

While they expressed deep disappointment, they said they are at wit’s end, as the AEDC has failed them and they will not be silenced again.

The community copied the letter to various authorities, including the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), police divisions, and local leaders, seeking urgent intervention to ensure power restoration as soon as possible.

AEDC has yet to respond to the community’s demands, heightening fears of a prolonged outage and increasing tensions in the area.

The residents emphasised that the infrastructure in Phase IV was established through communal efforts and criticised AEDC for its lack of maintenance and responsiveness.

Akeem said: “It is disheartening that while the infrastructure in Phase 4 was established through communal efforts, AEDC continues to collect substantial revenues from the residents without providing the necessary maintenance or upgrades.

“We have repeatedly raised concerns with AEDC regarding the overloading of the second transformer, which has resulted in oil leakage and the burning of uprisers.

“Additionally, aluminum conductors are frequently dropping, further evidencing the strain on the transformer. Despite these earnings, AEDC has failed to take appropriate action.”