Worried by the poor electricity supply in Suleja, the headquarters of Suleja local government area of Niger State and its environs, a large crowd of protesters on Sunday stormed the office of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), in the acient town to demand for better services.
There was Pandemonium in Suleja town as residents hurried closed their shops and business centers to avoid the protest being hijacked by hoodlums.
The protesters who are mostly youths also questioned the billing system of distribution company where a consumer without prepaid meter was asked to pay N15,000 flat rate for the month of February despite enjoying electricity supply for only three days in a week and three hours each of the three days.
The protesters demanded the distribution company to shutdown it business and vacate the area since the company is out to exploit the people rather than providing services that is required of them.
The protesters are particularly worried by what they called “the grave silence” by the state government who under its nose the citizens are being defrauded and being denied access to electricity supply by a private company.
One of the protesters, Abubakar sule who spoke to our correspondent, described as unfortunate the current epileptic electricity supply across the state with huge estimate bill to contend with by the citizens despite the state hosting three hydro electricity dams, and with Zungeru at 95 percent completion.
According to Abubakar, the people decided to trooped to the AEDC office today (Sunday) because of the poor power supply and the high money bills the AEDC Shared to customers two weeks ago without regular supply of electricity, adding that the resident hardly enjoy electricity for three day in a week.
He claimed that of the three days, the light only last for three hours, leaving consumers in a helpless situation.
“The current poor power supply has greatly affected business activities in the area and across the state in general and nobody is saying anything. How long can we continue like this”, he queried.
Head of business district, regional manager AEDC Suleja Mr. Kuteyi 0lubunmi Emmanuel who refused to speak to Journalists on this development, claiming that it was more than his power to comment, however quickly invited the police to protect the AEDC office from being set on fire by the angry protesters.
Recalled that the entire Niger State has been plugged into darkness in the last three weeks with the residents enjoying only fours hours of electricity supply.
The situation has brought both business and commercial activities to its lowest ebb and despite this worrisome poor electricity supply, consumers without prepaid meters are being confronted with outrageous bills every month.
