By Correspondent in Lokoja.
Residents of Gadumo, Lokoja, Kogi State, who were not originally connected to the Confluence feeder of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), have rejected their purported upgrade to Band A. They argue that the upgrade, as claimed by AEDC, is unjustified.
Our correspondent gathered that the Confluence feeder reportedly supplies electricity for up to 20 hours a day, while areas not served by it have experienced prolonged power outages.
Feelers from AEDC indicates that areas of Gadumo not connected to Confluence feeders before have been connected for improved electricity supply but at the expense of increased tarrif.
Despite this claim, many local consumers have told The Reporters that the upgrade has not improved their power supply , adding that their recent tariff increase is unjustified.
Such residents have expressed frustration, citing lack of any corresponding increase in electricity supply compared to their Confluence feeder neighbors.
Our investigation reveals that numerous complaints have been lodged at the AEDC office near Anebo Housing Estate, Gadumo.
Residents, including Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed and Mr Moses Christopher, have voiced skepticism about AEDC’s claims.
Mohammed said:,“How can AEDC expect us to believe that we’ve been upgraded to Band A if we’re not receiving the promised improved hours of electricity supply?
” Our neighbors on the Confluence feeder have constant power, while we are left without reliable service despite paying more.
“For the past three days running, I have not received a minute of electricity in my house. My immediate neighbor who has been on Confluence feeder has his light supplied steady, yet, AEDC makes me to understand that I am on the same feeder line with my neighbor?
“This is purely a case of being economic with truth.
“AEDC claims it has put some of us on its grade, this is nothing but being deliberately vague or withholding certain facts about energy supply to create a misleading impression, given the scenario I have given,”he said.
The residents affected have called for AEDC to either rectify the situation or return them to their previous status, rather than continuing with an upgrade that they believe offers no real benefit.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
