Residents of nine communities in Minna, Niger State capital, have called on the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to as a matter of urgency restore electricity supply in the area to avert imminent breakdown of law and order.
They alleged that since rainstorm disrupted their power supply from the Birgi feeder two months ago, supply from the Lapai feeder to which they are currently connected, have been epileptic.
The residents alleged that the distribution company appears unconcerned, and does not seem prepared to reconnect them back to their original feeder.
Speaking on behalf of the communities, the Chairman of Imani City community, Mallam Abdul Idris told newsmen that the problem started two months ago after poles conveying power from their transformer were brought down by rainstorm.
“From our observations, AEDC is trying to play on our collective intelligence. When rainstorm brought down our poles, they connected us from the Birgi feeder where we have been for over 16 years with over 10 hours supply to Lapai feeder which has been very epileptic. They want to leave us there.
“Now that they have decided to reconstruct the poles, they are asking us to wait until they are done with that of Alhaji Sani Basket while also using some of our poles to complete the work they are doing for him.
“So, because, we can’t trust them to finish and attend to us, we mobilized and stopped the work on Wednesday. We have observed that they don’t want to take us back to the Birgi feeder with better power supply.”
The community chairman added that appropriate authorities that include the state government, the police, TRADOC, NAF among others have been adequately communicated on the issue in the event of any outbreak of crisis as a result of the development.
Some members of the communities, who spoke to our correspondent, called on the electricity company to fix their power supply to Birgi feeder by retrieving some of the poles in the possession of Alhaji Sani Basket, an uncle to former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and owner of a rice and leather factory, to ensure peace in the area.
They insisted that they will mobilize and resist any attempt by AEDC to fix the poles supplying power to Sani Basket’s company before those of the communities.
According to them, “The company is asking us to wait for one week that they have applied for poles from Abuja. We have written over 15 letters to AEDC asking for transformers, poles among other things and have never gotten any response. How do we believe that they will keep to their promise now? That is why we are insisting that our poles in possession of Sani Basket should be returned. We can contribute and get the additional ones required ourselves.”
The AEDC, in a letter of complaint against the Imani Community addressed to the Niger State Police Command and other relevant authorities, which made available to the Newspot, alleged that despite its commitment to fulfilling its obligations and providing essential services, the community’s actions have hindered its efforts.
The letter, signed by the Regional Manager, Engr Samuel Odekina, dated 24th May, 2024, with Ref. No. AEDC /273/NGR/143/2024, explained that a tripartite agreement on the issue was reached between AEDC, Sani Basket and representatives of the communities where it was agreed that the company should undertake the temporary reconstruction of Sani Basket’s industry, pending the arrival 22 44 feet high tension poles, since the communities are already temporarily connected to the Lapai feeder.
AEDC alleged that upon arrival of its workers on site, members of the Imani community denied them access and prevented them from performing their duty, hence the decision to involve the law enforcement agents.
However, when Newspot visited the Sani Basket Rice and Leather factory for a reaction, the security guards at the gate said no one was on ground to speak on the issue.
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