The Abuja Electric Distribution Company (AEDC) and the state government of Niger State have been urged to intervene and end the protracted power outage that has left their towns in the dark for the past six months by residents of Paikoro and Lapai Local Government Areas.
No less than 40,000 homes are without energy as a direct result of the vandalism of power distribution facilities by unidentified intruders.
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According to reports, 33 transformers in Lapai were smashed, and allegedly robbers stole the feeder pillars servicing both local government regions stationed in Paiko.
In the two local government areas, this unfortunate incident is the third to occur in the past six months, forcing locals and various government institutions, including the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai and the two general hospitals, to rely on generators for their domestic and operational power needs.
Due to the power loss, the FM station in Lapai has also been off the air for the last six months.
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Residents have complained that the AEDC has pulled its workers out of the impacted areas, which they perceive as a lack of willingness on the part of the firm to act quickly to address the issue.
Alhaji Mohammed Yaro Paiko, a local leader, pleaded with the state government and the electricity provider to act quickly to help the affected communities.
He stressed how the protracted power loss has negatively damaged neighborhood businesses and given criminal elements a chance to take advantage of the situation by breaking into homes, especially at night.
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Alh. Mohammed Adamu, the AEDC’s public relations officer in Minna, confirmed the situation and bemoaned the three occasions when electrical facilities were stolen and replaced. He urged the communities to take responsibility and make sure the facilities in their various areas are protected because the company lacks the funds to keep replacing them.
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