Nigerians have expressed widespread frustration after a two-week electricity supply disruption, which began on January 6, 2025, plunged parts of Abuja and Nasarawa into darkness. The blackout, confirmed by both the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), is a result of the relocation of the 33KV DC Airport Feeder and the 132KV Kukwaba-Apo Transmission Line Towers along the Outer Southern Motorway. Despite claims of load shedding, residents in several areas are experiencing total blackouts, with local businesses, especially those dealing with perishables, facing massive losses.
AEDC and TCN’s failure to provide alternative solutions has drawn harsh criticism from consumers. Kunle Olubiyo, the President of the Nigerian Consumer Protection Network, described the outage as “shameful” and called for accountability, suggesting that better planning and stringing could have avoided the situation. Some residents, like Mabel Michael from Kubwa, lamented the loss of perishables, while traders like Benjamin Eze expressed frustration over increased reliance on expensive generators.
In response, AEDC’s Acting Managing Director, Chijioke Okwuokenye, assured that remedial measures are being implemented, including load shedding to ensure some level of power supply. He acknowledged the significant revenue losses but emphasized that the intention was not to keep customers in prolonged darkness. AEDC also plans compensation for affected customers, with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission involved in resolving the issue.
Meanwhile, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, confirmed that the government is in talks with AEDC and TCN to find a solution to the ongoing outage, which continues to disrupt the lives of residents and businesses in Abuja and Nasarawa.