Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are bracing for yet another round of power outages as the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced disruptions starting Monday. The announcement, which came via the company’s official X handle, stated that the outages would result from the relocation of critical transmission infrastructure.
AEDC disclosed that the 33KV DC Airport Feeder and the 132KV Kukwaba-Apo Transmission Line Towers along the Outer Southern Expressway will be relocated between January 6 and January 31, 2025. Why can’t the relocation be planned more strategically to minimize disruptions.
“Please be informed that there will be power interruptions from January 6-21, 2025, due to FCDA relocating the 33KV DC Airport Feeder and 132KV Kukwaba-Apo Transmission Line Towers along the Outer Southern Expressway,” the statement read. For residents who have grown weary of these announcements, it’s just another day in the saga of unreliable power supply.
The areas affected by the outages are extensive, covering Lugbe, Airport Road, Kapwa, NNPC, Games Village, National Stadium, Eye Clinic, Indoor Complex, Christ Embassy Church, and the American International School. Other areas include parts of Apo, Gudu, Gbazango, Kubwa, Bwari, Jahi, Jabi, Karu, Nyanya, Mararaba, Keffi, and other parts of Abuja.
AEDC, in its normal fashion, added a polite apology: “We regret any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.”
This new disruption comes barely a week after the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) halted power supply in parts of Abuja for planned maintenance at two substations in Gwagwalada. Despite all these so-called maintenance efforts, complaints about poor power supply persist.
This is the same Abuja that the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has been touting as a model of reform and development. “Behold his Abuja,” indeed, a city where residents are expected to pay for the privilege of sitting in darkness. Perhaps the slogan for 2025 should be “Power for the privileged, darkness for the masses.”
