We have been in darkness for 3 months – Tunga Maje residents

Some of residents of Tunga Maje, community said they have been without electricity supply for more than three months.

The residents of the community in Gwagwalada Area Council said the nonsupply of electricity by officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has paralysed socio-economic activities in the area.

Traders in the community said they now buy diesel and petrol at exorbitant prices.

Mrs. Modupe Afolayan said she runs her generator for several hours during the period.

The frozen fish seller said she spends about N2,300 daily on diesel due to lack of electricity.

"As you can see, I sell frozen fish and without electricity there is no way I can store the fish. I have no option than to buy diesel to fuel my generator in order to maintain my customers," she said.

Another resident, Mr. Emma Ebuka, a welder, said he resorted to farming due to the lack of electricity supply to carry out his work as he could not afford to continue buying diesel for his generator.

Also, Mr. Toyin Durowaiye, a member of Tunga Maje Electricity Development Committee (TMEDC), disclosed that the committee, under its chairman, Eng. Sham T. Kolo, had written letters to the AEDC at Gwagwalada over the prolonged power outage at the community, without any responses from them.

"As I am talking to you right now, there are two new transformers they brought and dump them in front of the chief’s house for over three months ago without installing them," he said.

When contacted, the Gwagwalada branch business manager of the AEDC, could not be reached for comment, but a staff of AEDC who said he is not authorized to speak with the press, but claimed that the power outage at the community was due to delay by the council to approve the site where the transformers will be installed.