Protesters ground Bida over poor power supply

Youths in their hundreds yesterday grounded economic activities in Bida, the headquarters of Bida Emirate in protest over what they referred to as “obnoxious and deliberate act by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to strangulate power supply to the city and environs.”

The protesters barricaded all entry points and major intersections within the city, thereby stalling movements. Vehicles caught in the crisis could not get out of the city for the five hours the protest lasted.

The protesters who were in all-back attires signifying darkness, also mostly held local lanterns and torchlights to demonstrate their helplessness with public power supply.

They marched to the Bida office of the AEDC located on Lemu off Zungeru road, where they presented their position to Mr. Abednego Akubuko, the Niger state regional manager.

The protesters then marched to the Wadata Palace of the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, where they also presented their grievances to the royal father.

In the position signed by Comrade Umar A.Saidu, the Steering Committee chairman averred that “In the last 28 months, power supply to the citizens of Bida has been worrisome, poor repeatedly and viciously epileptic, despite that a hydro-electricity base is situated in our state.”

He said the epileptic power supply was adversely affecting the economic growth of Bida and hurting the citizenry who he said still had to pay ‘staggering amounts monthly as bill for power not consumed.’

They therefore gave the AEDC three weeks within which to restore steady power supply and to stop estimated billing.

At the palace, the Etsu Nupe appealed to the protesters to remain calm, promising to forward their grievances to the appropriate authority for action.

Responding, AEDC Head Public Relations and Media, Malam Ahmed Shekarau said the demand for 24 hours of electricity supply was impossible at the moment, adding, “We currently give them supply for 12 hours, which is very good considering the energy allocation to our Company.”

On the issue of estimated billing, Malam Shekarau said although the AEDC recognized the right of each of its customers to have a meter, because it inherited a situation whereby half of its customers were unmetered, it could not bridge the metering gap as quickly as customers would want.