From Abel Leonard, Lafia
In a decisive move, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has issued a stern ultimatum to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), demanding the restoration of normal electricity supply to communities across the state within 14 days, or face eviction.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, emphasized the vital importance of electricity for human and societal development, asserting that the people of Nasarawa deserve uninterrupted power.
During a rigorous four-hour session with Assembly members yesterday, lawmakers grilled representatives from both the AEDC and the Nasarawa Electricity Power Agency (NAePA) on the persistent power blackout and exorbitant billing plaguing the state. Speaker Jatau underscored the urgency of the matter, stating, “Our people have been sleeping in darkness… We cannot take it.”
Highlighting Governor Abdullahi Sule’s efforts to improve power supply in the state, Speaker Jatau lamented that these endeavors had been undermined by the AEDC’s inefficiency. He condemned the company’s poor service delivery, which he asserted was exacerbating hardship and poverty among the populace.
Engr. Adeyemi Jonathan Kehinde, AEDC’s Chief Business Officer for Kogi, Niger, and Nasarawa, acknowledged shortcomings in replacing damaged infrastructure but pledged improvement in electricity supply. Meanwhile, Engr. Yakubu Suleiman Umar, General Manager of NAePA, affirmed the agency’s commitment to enhancing power distribution across the state.
Daily Sun reports that the Assembly’s actions follow an earlier summons to the AEDC and NAePA, prompted by concerns raised by Hon. Solomon Akwashiki regarding persistent blackouts and overbilling. As the deadline looms, the people of Nasarawa await tangible progress, hopeful for an end to their struggles with inadequate electricity provision.
