Residents threaten legal action over 4-month blackout in Plateau LGA

Communities in Bassa LGA of Plateau State have threatened  to go to court over four months of blackout, saying the absence of power has increased the rate of crime in their localities. The communities explained that the development came following a thunderstorm which destroyed 30 electric poles. They said the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) […]

Communities in Bassa LGA of Plateau State have threatened  to go to court over four months of blackout, saying the absence of power has increased the rate of crime in their localities.

The communities explained that the development came following a thunderstorm which destroyed 30 electric poles.

They said the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) was responsible for the repairs but that it failed to fix them since May.

A lawyer and resident of Rukuba community, Mathew Asama Ahince, told our correspondent that “as a result of the total blackout in the LGA headquarters crime rate has increased and the situation has given room to robbers and kidnappers to operate freely. The headquarters has been without light since the first week of May, 2022.”

Another resident, a medical doctor, John Atizi, said many people who relied solely on electricity for their businesses had been counting losses, while some had closed their shops because of the cost of diesel.

Reacting, the spokesperson of JEDC, Friday Elijah, said, “Following the incident which led to the disruption of services in Basa, JEDC expeditiously replaced most of the fallen poles. 37 concrete poles were mounted to replace those that were destroyed by the windstorm and supply was restored to 80 per cent of the community.

“It is only the interior villages that are yet to get supply because of the marshy and muddy nature of the terrain. Twice, our crane got stuck in the areas. We are working on how to get supplies to the remaining areas. It is not true that the company has neglected the inhabitants of Bassa.”