Gwagwa community in FCT decries epileptic power, outrageous billings

Residents of Gwagwa Community in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT have decried the epileptic power supply and outrageous billing in the area.

Some of the residents, who spoke with our correspondent on Tuesday in the area, described the development as worrisome.

According to the residents, it hinders economic activities and social life in the area.

Our correspondent who visited the area reports that most small business operators were seen running their trade on generators.

The small businesses are barbing and hair dressing saloons, snacks and drinking joints and mini market stalls among others.

Mr Emeka Anyawu, a businessman in the area, said AEDC had no reason billing consumers since there had not been adequate power supply in the area.

“We were told that there was a break down in the electricity sub-station feeding the community and yet they bring bills for us to pay.

“It will amount to extortion if AEDC continues to bill Gwagwa electricity consumers for what we have not consumed.

“We are appealing to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to come to our aid and address this problem because the power outage is affecting our businesses.’’

Miss Blessing Oge, said the distribution of bills in the area was not fair, given that there had not been constant power supply.

She said the billing of consumers after months of complete outage was a clear violation of the consumer’s right.

“We have not seen light for some months now and I don’t know how they manufacture the bills they distribute to us,’’ she said.

According to her, through community effort, residents have been able to purchase three transformers to power the community in order to boost supply but to no avail.

She said consumers in the area were regular in payment of bills and expressed dissatisfaction over billing of consumers in spite of constant outage.

When NAN contacted the Public Relations and Media Officer of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Mr Ahmed Shakarau on the epileptic power supply in the area, he said the challenge could be from overloading of the transformer serving the area.

Shakarau, however, said that he would forward a former complaint to the manger responsible for the area to find out what the problem was with a view to finding a lasting solution.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of AEDC, Mr Ernest Mupwaya had at a workshop held recently that the company had so far spent the sum of N6.5 billion on improving infrastructure in its coverage area.

According to him, the breakdown of the N6.5bn spent included N900 million for the replacement of more than 374 faulty transformers, procurement of 145 vehicles to ease logistic issues.

“It includes bush clearing of more than 11,400 kilometer power lines to check avoidable power outages in its franchise area.

“We have maintained 8,138 distribution substation transformers since 2016 out of the 12,000 units we have.’’