From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
Tension, anger, and fury are gradually escalating among residents of the Bwari Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) over a persistent power outage that has lasted for almost two weeks, severely affecting social and economic life in the communities.
In response to the blackout, some residents have threatened to embark on mass protests, while others are considering legal action against the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to seek a resolution.
In their frustration, residents have vowed to take to the streets and shut down the offices of AEDC and TCN, citing substantial losses to their businesses and daily activities.
They argue that the blackout has crippled economic, commercial, and social life, and raised concerns about personal hygiene issues that could lead to health hazards.
Bwari, a vast council area in the FCT, encompasses major neighborhoods such as Kubwa, Dutse, Gwarinpa, Sokale, Ushafa, Jiigo, Kuduru, and Usma Dam, among others.
It also hosts several critical federal agencies, including the Nigerian Army Mobile Barracks, the Nigerian Defence Estate, Abuja Water Board, the Headquarters of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board, JAMB and the Nigerian Law School, the DSS Training School, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, among others.
Residents have connected the prolonged power outage to the nation’s ongoing struggles with its energy sector, with many vowing to take to the streets unless the situation is swiftly addressed.
AEDC and TCN’s Explains
The AEDC issued a statement explaining that the power outage is due to a technical fault on the 33kV Bwari Feeder, which has disrupted electricity supply to the affected areas. The company assured customers that its technical team, in collaboration with TCN, is working diligently to restore power.
“Dear valued customers in Sokale Garden, Dutse Makaranta, Dutse Bokuma, Ushafa, Pegi, Gigo, Defence College Estate, Kogo, Zuma, Veritas University, Jamb Headquarters, Law School, Bwari and all its environs.
We wish to inform you that the ongoing power outage is due to a technical fault on the 33kV Bwari Feeder, which is affecting supply to these areas, the statement read.
Similarly, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) confirmed that the blackout is caused by a malfunctioning 33kV breaker at the Kubwa Transmission Station.
NERC expressed apologies for the inconvenience and assured that efforts are underway to restore the power supply.
TCN assured ; “We are working with TCN to restore supply soon. Apologies for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience”.
However, some residents remain skeptical, with one TCN staff admitting that the circuit breaker was indeed the root cause but asserting that TCN was not overwhelmed.
Pleading anonymity a staff of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, admitted that the circuit breaker was actually the issue.
He also mentioned that funds have been requested from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the purchase of a replacement circuit breaker.
Despite this explanation, residents remain dissatisfied with the prolonged outage, which has already lasted almost two weeks.
One source, speaking privately, criticized the slow response, pointing out that replacing a circuit breaker should not take more than an hour.
The source also lamented the bureaucratic inefficiencies within the system, arguing that the situation reveals the incompetence of those in charge.
“It’s not even that the transformer is faulty,” the source said. “It’s just the circuit breaker. If this were in a modern system, it should have been fixed within hours.”
Growing Frustration Among Residents
Comrade Kenneth Chima, a local resident, expressed his frustration with the continued power outage, highlighting the incompetence of AEDC in addressing technical faults promptly.
He urged the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, to take action immediately, emphasizing that electricity is a basic necessity, not a luxury.
Business owners like Oyelakin Segun have also voiced their dissatisfaction. Segun lamented the enormous losses endured during the blackout, warning that patience is running out. “It’s not funny anymore.
“We’ve lost so much, and it seems like nothing is being done about it,” he said, hinting at the possibility of a mass protest if the issue is not addressed soon.
A statement from the Wheel of Hope Human Rights Foundation, led by Comrade Jide Abdulazeez, echoed these concerns, calling for mass action.
Abdulazeez criticized the lack of transparency and official communication, noting the severe consequences of the blackout on the economic, social, and academic lives of residents.
He demanded that the Minister of Power issue a public apology to the people of Bwari and implement a lasting solution.
The statement read;
“Access to electricity is not a luxury; it is a necessity,” Abdulazeez said. “The residents of Bwari deserve better. It is time for those in charge to act responsibly and restore power without further delay.”
“The lack of electricity has paralyzed businesses, disrupted learning, and diminished the quality of life for thousands of citizens who depend on stable power supply for their daily activities.
“What is even more concerning is the apparent absence of transparency, official apology, or visible efforts to resolve this situation.
“We call on the Minister of Power and the relevant authorities to urgently address this issue and offer a public apology to the people of Bwari.
“More importantly, a lasting and sustainable solution must be implemented immediately to prevent such insensitivity and negligence from recurring.
“The residents of Bwari deserve better. Access to electricity is not a luxury it is a necessity. It is time for those in charge to act responsibly and restore power to our community without further delay.
Ezra Usman, a resident of Dutse Alhaji, also shared his frustration, accusing the government of neglecting the plight of the residents. “We’ve had enough,” Usman said. “Perishables have gone bad under this tough economy. We won’t just sit back and do nothing; we’ll take action soon.”
Hon. Emeka Ohaeri, Chairman of the Pmagbe Landlords Association, confirmed that residents have been relentlessly reaching out to him about the ongoing power crisis.
“I’ve made several efforts to address the issue, but both AEDC and TCN have been less than transparent,”.
“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.”, He said.
A Deteriorating Power Sector
The situation underscores a stark reflection of the nation’s deteriorating power sector, which has been plagued by repeated failures despite promises from various administrations to address the crisis.
The power grid continues to collapse across the country, leaving millions in the dark and causing significant losses for businesses and individuals alike.
As residents of Bwari and other affected areas await the restoration of power, it remains to be seen whether the authorities will take swift action or whether the people will be forced to escalate their protests further.
The ongoing crisis underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reform in the nation’s energy sector to ensure a stable and reliable power supply for all citizens.