“Power State” without power – Anappeal to NERC to discipline AEDC

I’m going to make three claims. One, AEDC is the worst electricity distribution company in Nigeria- at least in the north. The service of AEDC (Abuja Electricity Distribution Company) is so poor, all the states for which it provides electricity are subjected to blackouts for more than half the day.  I live in two of […]

I’m going to make three claims. One, AEDC is the worst electricity distribution company in Nigeria- at least in the north. The service of AEDC (Abuja Electricity Distribution Company) is so poor, all the states for which it provides electricity are subjected to blackouts for more than half the day.  I live in two of those states – Abuja and Niger.   I used to believe that the situation was the same across the country, until I started interviewing people from other jurisdictions and visiting those places.  For example, in Minna we get eight hours a day on good days.  It is worse than this sometimes, depending on the mood of AEDC.  Some days, they simply take offence at our complaints and switch off for more than two days, as you will read in my third claim.  Even though some of use prepaid meters. Which means we pay even before the power comes.

This is Minna, the capital of Niger named the Power State on account of hosting three hydro stations which the nation exclusively relies upon when things go south (and they always do) with the gas powered stations. You would think this would count for something.  But it doesn’t, we get eight hours.  And when we’re lucky (and we’re not often lucky) we get twelve hours a day.

Compared to other states in the Northwest and even the Boko Haram ravaged Northeast, we’re in a terrible mess.  At least, the following states get better electricity: Kaduna, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Gombe and Bauchi.  Those states get between 16 to 20 hours a day. But don’t take my word for it.  When I raised the topic on my Facebook wall and asked about the situation in other places, following is the submission from other states.

Huzaifa Adam Umar: “Nepa in Kano, [we get] at least 18hrs per day.”

Muhammad Musa: “KEDCO here in Katsina, we get at least 20hrs uninterrupted power supply per day. I don’t dream of going back to Minna anymore.”

Ladan Waziri: “Here in Madalla, in Suleja LGA [of Niger State], the light came yesterday between 2pm and 5pm. And also between 1am and 3am. However, up to the early hours of this morning, there is no light.”

KabirTsakuwa: “18 hours light in Kano on the average. But the issue is Money. AEDC are not ready to buy enough MW for distribution to FCT, Nassarawa and Niger; unlike Kano [disco] that buys as much as 550MW.”

Mohammed Abubakar: “Kebbi state is the best 24/7 for stable power.”

Attahiru Mohammed: “I think Abujaelectricity needs to know the value of its customers. In all the statesAbujaelectricityAEDC is handling, it has a poor rating. I know of Nassarawa state.Youhardly see light inLafia town for many years now.You get only epileptic supply. While for those that live in satellite towns of Abuja hardly enjoys light too. Gwagwaladahas been on loadshedding since early March because of a faulty equipment.”

Adams Mustapha: “I left Kaduna yesterday where I have been for over three months. Electricity there is atleast 16 hours per day. Coming to Niger, I noticed everything got worse. AEDC is a scam!”

Mahmoud Abdulkadir: “AEDC has no  regards for us at all and this shows clearly that they think they are doing us a favour.”

Bala Abdullahi:“I have been in Kano since   2 December and till date I have not witness at least two-hour long power outage. I live precisely around RiminGata, BUK New site, Gwarzo road. KEDCO is doing very well here.

Abdullahi Musa: “We don’t even experience power failure here at my area in Kaduna at all.”

Nas Muhammad: “Power is relatively stable in Sokoto.”

Baba Akote: “AEDC is terrible.”

Musa Aminu:“Our problems have always been AEDC. KEDCO in Kano gives us light adequately.AEDC claimed they don’t break even in Minna and its environs,hence the blackouts.”

Ahmad Jibril Garba: “Actually there’s remarkable improvement in our area here in Kano. The level of power supply is relatively stable.”

RabiuAdamu: “In Gombe, we are enjoying 20 to 22 hours of light. Gaskiya Alhamdulillah.”

Therefore, the foregoing reviews of different electricity distribution companies validate my claim that Abuja Electricity Distribution Company is the worst in the North.

Two, where electricity is concerned, we’ve not seen any change – at least for those of us in Niger State. In this regard Jonathan’s administration and Buhari’s administration are the same. 

Even in my house in Utako Abuja, considered to be one of the leafy and upscale areas of Abuja,  nothing has changed since I returned to Nigeria in 2013. And we participated in the campaigns and voted Buhari because we expect things to change in this sector.  However, in fairness to the government and from the foregoing testimonies, it appears that something has changed for others in many states.  It’s for those in AEDC service states that things have not changed.  Therefore, AEDC doesn’t only cause us discomfort, it also damages the image of the Federal Government. 

We sometimes go for a complete day without power in Utako. This happens regularly. Sometimes we get a few hours in the morning and some hours at night – and spend the afternoon without electricity. 

Therefore, for us, we’ve not experienced the change APC promised and we’re as angry with Buhari as we were with Jonathan because the electricity is as irregular as in Jonathan’s years and blackouts as abundant as in Jonathan’s time. 

Three, Niger State and its people are being cheated by the FG and other operators in the sector. As I write this, today(Wednesday December 20, 2017) is the third day that we’ve been subjected to a blackout in Minna. Our deputy governor had to travel to Abuja to discuss (plead?) with AEDC before the power was restored. The Federal Government through the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Agency (NERC) knows the suffering we go through and yet, they’ve left the people of Niger State to the wicked hands of AEDC. 

We may soon activate #NoPowerNoVote campaign.  And when we do that, the Presidency should blame NERC management for the loss of Niger State.

So what do we want?  The minister of Power, Works and Housing, BabatundeRajiFashola once said that a time would come that technology will make switching electricity service provider as easy as switching a GSM provider.  For us in Niger State, that time has come, technology or no technology.  We want to be switched to Kaduna Distribution Company.

Failing which we want NERC to enforce the metering of ALL Niger State power consumers. We get the sense that the electricity has not improved because AEDC still makes money through estimated billing whether it gives us light or not.  And that could also be the motivation for not metering us.

Finally, we want NERC to instruct AEDC to give the people of Niger State 20 hours of electricity per day. This is not only possible, it’s probable.  Other states in the region (North) have done it.  So why can’t AEDC do it? Besides paying for electricity like others, we’re also the Power State, so we deserve it more.