Power supply cripples businesses in Abuja

The continued shortfall in electricity
supply in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
Abuja, is adversely affecting economic and social
activities of residents.
Virtually all types of businesses in the capital
city and its environs have been affected as
business owners are now contending with the
high costs of diesel to power generating sets
which are mostly relied upon in the prevailing
circumstance.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC)
attributed the shortfall to the reduction to 150
megawatts from its usual allocation of 500
megawatts previously allocated to it,
necessitating rationing of supply among
consumers.
However, Head of Public Relations AEDC,
Patience Toyo, assured that the company was
working round the clock to improve the situation.

According to Toyo, “the power or load allocation
from Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to
Abuja is only 150 megawatts which is a
significant reduction from the manageable 500
megawatts which was previously allocated to the
company.
” Although the Disco did not give reason for the
drastic reduction in grid allocation, it, however,
said the drop has led to load-shedding of some
areas.

The situation is, however, taking a toll on the
socio-economic activities as business owners
say they spend millions of naira to power their
generating sets.
It is estimated that businesses in the FCT spend
up to N200 million monthly on costs associated
with maintaining electricity generating sets.
The manager of a manufacturing company at Idu
industrial area, an Indian national who craved
anonymity for fear of victimization said he runs
generator at least 18 hours daily in order to
remain in business.

“The power situation is bad, we run generator for
about 18 hours. PHCN is unreliable and it
doesn’t come at all nowadays. I can tell you that
most of the manufacturing companies located
here at the Idu Industrial Layout, now run on
generators to meet up with their daily
production,” he lamented.
Binta Garba, a housewife at Gwarimpa Estate,
Abuja, said the epileptic power situation had
made all the food items she stored in her
refrigerator to go bad, leading to wastages.

She appealed to the Abuja Electricity Distribution
Company to do something urgently, especially
with the adverse weather condition which was
causing a lot of heat and health hazards to
children especially.