Minna
Gbagenu and Dutsen Kura-Gwari Communities in Chanchaga Local Government Area, Niger state have called on the relevant government agencies to come to their aid to end incessant power outage.
They expressed the optims that such intervention would put to an end,” crazy billings’ crippling their small scale businesses and compounded their economic woes.
Duaglobalnews reports that constant power failure being experienced in the two areas has forced many residents of the communities to either relocate to other parts of Minna where there is improved power supply or close business.
Residents expressed sadness over their social and economic plight.
They noted that the fact Chachangi Local Government chairman procured transfermer to address power outage, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) had failed to give customers, value for their money.
The customers accused the AEDC, Bosso Business Unit of being interested in exploiting customers through monthly ‘Crazy Billings’ not minding if the customers had light as the unit hardly supply electricity to the two communities.
Usman Abdulkadir, a welder and metal fabricator, who was particular about how his business has been rendered comatose, said the constant power failure had caused him hunger and untold hardship.
“I can hardly fend for my gsmily. “We hardly get work to do these days because there is no light,” lamented.
Usman, a father of six, said for his lean resources he would have moved to where there is constant electricity to power his business, adding that people no longer feel like renting house in Gbagenu and Dutsen Kura-Gwari because there is no light.
“Before, many people wanted to live here because it is close to the Government House and secure, but not now anymore due to every day no light.
” People will come here to get house but after their rent expires, they will pack to another place because we don’t always have light,”he said.
Usman said he had abandoned his metal fabrication work for the sale of vegetables which he noted was far less profitable, compared to the fabrication job.
The artisan lamented that despite nearness of the areas to the state seat of power, they had abandoned by politicians after voting them into power.
“The situation is worst this year. Imagine for weeks now no light but they will still bring bill at the end of the month. If you don’t pay, they will cut your line and you will be forced to pay reconnection fee before they reconnect you.”
While calling on the relevant government agencies to come to their aid in checking the excesses of the AEDC officials, Usman said, “We learnt that Chanchaga Local Government Chairman, Mallam Ibrahim Abubakar Bosso distributed transformers but this has not in any way improved our situation.”
Reacting to the allegations of constant power failure and extortion, the AEDC Bosso Business Unit Manager, simply known as Mr Theophilus confirmed to our correspondent,on text, that the area was experiencing constant power outage.
“We have issues with the feeder,” he said.
