A widespread power outage has struck the Presidential Villa and numerous areas in Abuja, sparking widespread concern and frustration among residents.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) reported that the blackout was caused by technical faults in some of its feeders, which impacted transmission to the R4 Injection Substation at Three Arms Zone, Aso Drive, supplying power to the Presidential Villa.
At least 53 locations have been affected, including CKC Gwagwalada, Kuje Road, Almat Farms, Kiran Farm, Efugo, Kwali Road, L5 Injection Substation, Chukuku Environs, Premium Farm, El-rufai Estate, Daghiri, Kuje Extension, John Calvin Estate, Kings Court, Karmo District, Idu Industrial, Urban Shelter Katampe, Living Faith Church Katampe, Jahi village, Katampe extension, Jahi by Gilmore, Gishiri, Mabushi, Kadokuchi, Navy Estate, Anan House, NAF Conference, Lake View Phase 1&2, Custom Quarter, Chida Hotel, Dakibiu, Brains and Hammer City Estate, Today Estate, Dape District, Katsina Estate, Paradise Estate, Ochacho Estate, Kafe District, American Embassy Estate, part of Gwarinpa, Zone C War College, Lateef Jakande, Zone E, Zone D, Bestway Hotel, and Eterna filling station.
This recent outage follows a similar incident on January 17, when parts of the Presidential Villa and other areas in Abuja were plunged into darkness due to the vandalization of the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s (TCN) 132kV underground cables.
The AEDC has appealed to residents for patience, assuring that its engineers are working to restore electricity to the affected areas as soon as possible.
On social media, many Nigerians have been lamenting over the situation.
Ikenna Ogueli wrote: “You see guys, I am not a fan of protest, but you this AEDC, when the need to protest against NEPA in this country I will join. You can’t keep defrauding people and expect them not to react. You don’t supply power yet you bill us outrageously.”
Jeffrey Dikewonsi wrote: “I used to spend 12.5–13k/month on electricity. Now it’s 50k/month. AEDC didn’t upgrade the power supply, they just upgraded my suffering.”
