Residents of Abuja are battling a severe electricity crisis that has left homes and businesses struggling to cope.
For nearly two months, the affected areas, under the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), have experienced highly irregular power supply, with many describing the situation as unbearable.
Several residents who spoke with our correspondent expressed frustration over the erratic supply, noting that electricity is sometimes available for only a few seconds in an entire day.
Others decried the pattern of brief, inconsistent power at night, often followed by what they described as excessive estimated billing at the end of the month.
A hairdresser in Kurudu, Jennifer, said the situation has made it increasingly difficult to sustain her business.
“It has been very challenging. There are days I cannot work for hours because I depend on a generator, and fuel now costs about N1,300 per litre. It is becoming almost impossible to keep the business running,” she said.
A welder, Mr Ogidi, also lamented the impact on his livelihood.
“How can I function properly when electricity comes on for just a few seconds and goes off again? I have lost many jobs because I cannot predict when power will be available,” he said.
Mrs Udoka, who runs a cold room business, said she was forced to temporarily shut down operations due to the high cost of fuel.
“I had to close because running a generator with fuel above N1,000 per litre is not sustainable. It is affecting both my income and the preservation of perishable goods,” she explained.
Similarly, Kazeem, a laundry operator, said the brief and inconsistent power supply makes survival difficult.
“Sometimes we get light for just a minute and then it disappears. It is hard to survive like this,” he said.
The situation extends to neighbouring Mararaba Loko in Nasarawa State, where residents say electricity has become a rare commodity.
A tailor in the area, Mrs Chidera, described the situation as unpredictable and damaging to businesses.
“We hardly have electricity here. It comes once in a while, making it impossible to plan. Businesses are suffering,” she said.
She also raised concerns about billing discrepancies.
“Sometimes we only get power for a few seconds, yet the prepaid meter runs as if we have constant supply. It is unfair and adds more pressure on people already struggling,” she added.
In response, AEDC acknowledged the issue on its official social media platforms, apologising to residents and assuring them that the disruption was not intentional.
The company stated that power supply would improve once allocation to the area increases.
However, residents insist that urgent intervention is needed, stressing that enduring nearly two months of minimal electricity supply is no longer sustainable for both households and businesses.