19 September 2014, Nasarawa – Residents of Angwa Nugu area of Lafia Local Government of Nasarawa State on Friday lamented the low power supply and unnecessary hike in electricity bills by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.
AEDC is one of the recently privatized electricity distribution companies. It supplies electricity to Abuja, Niger, Kogi and Nasarawa States.
Some of the residents in Obi, Awe, Doma and Keana local governments areas of the state who spoke to The PUNCH in an exclusive admonished the state assembly to wade into the increase in electricity bills by almost 20 per cent monthly, even when power is not supplied to consumers as expected.
Investigation by The Punch revealed that the state capital and other urban centers in the state have been witnessing shortage of power supply in recent months which has crippled economic and social activities.
John Samuel, a resident of Angwa Nugu, told our correspondent that what he paid in the month of May and June was quite different compare to what he paid in July, expressing concern on what could be responsible for arbitrary hike in electricity bills.
Also speaking to our correspondent, managing director of shilohgate cybercafé at Abdullahi Adamu Housing Estate Lafia, John Vembela said what he used to pay before now was N1,600.00 and now he is paying above N4,000.00, lamenting that the current charges did not commiserate with what he consumed.
Reacting to the claim, at the first quarter 2014 consumers’ consultative council meeting, the manager of Lafia Business District of AEDC, Jonah Maha, admonished consumers to always demand proper identification from any staff of AEDC seen around electricity equipment.
– The Punch
