Residents of Kurudu, Orozo and Karshi communities on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory have raised the alarm over what they described as a severe and prolonged electricity crisis.
The affected areas, which fall under the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, have reportedly endured erratic power supply for about two months, leaving both households and small businesses struggling to cope.
Several residents who spoke on the development expressed frustration over the situation, with some claiming they receive electricity for only a few seconds in an entire day.
They also lamented that despite the near absence of supply, they continue to receive what they described as excessive estimated bills.
A hairdresser in Kurudu, identified simply as Jennifer, said the development had taken a toll on her business.
“It has been very difficult to operate. There are days I cannot work because I depend on a generator, and fuel now costs about N1,300 per litre. It’s becoming unbearable,” she said.
A welder in the area, Ogidi, also decried the unpredictable power situation, noting that it had led to loss of income.
“How can anyone work when electricity comes for just a few seconds and goes off again? I’ve lost several jobs because I can’t tell when power will be available,” he said.
Similarly, a cold room operator, Mrs Udoka, disclosed that she was forced to suspend operations due to the high cost of alternative power supply.
“I had to shut down because running a generator is too expensive. It’s affecting my business and the preservation of perishable goods,” she said.
A laundry operator, Kazeem, described the situation as untenable, adding that brief flashes of electricity were insufficient for any meaningful activity.
“We sometimes see light for barely a minute before it goes off again. It’s not something anyone can rely on,” he said.
In neighbouring Mararaba Loko in Nasarawa State, residents said the situation was equally dire, describing electricity supply as almost non-existent.
A tailor in the area, Mrs Chidera, said the erratic supply had made it difficult for residents to plan their daily activities or sustain their businesses.
“Electricity rarely comes, and when it does, it lasts for only a few seconds. Yet, our prepaid meters run as if we have constant supply. It’s frustrating and unfair,” she said.
Reacting to the complaints, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company acknowledged the situation and apologised to affected customers.
In a statement shared on its official social media platforms, the company attributed the poor supply to low power allocation, assuring residents that efforts were ongoing to improve the situation.
It stated that normal supply would be restored once allocation to the area improves.
Despite the assurance, residents called for immediate intervention, stressing that the prolonged outage had become unbearable and was crippling economic activities in the affected communities.