- Kunle Olubiyo urges the federal government to sanction TCN and AEDC for a planned 16-day power outage affecting Abuja residents
- The outages, starting January 6, could lead to significant economic losses for businesses and households, prompting calls for accountability
The President of the Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, Kunle Olubiyo, has called on the federal government to impose sanctions on the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) over prolonged power outages in Abuja.
The blackout, announced by TCN and AEDC, is planned to last 16 days, from January 6 to January 21, affecting various areas in the Federal Capital Territory.
Olubiyo described the planned outages as a significant failure in responsibility by both TCN and AEDC. He warned that the economic losses incurred by electricity users, including manufacturers and small to large-scale enterprises, could amount to billions of dollars during this period.
In a statement, he highlighted the devastating impact on households, particularly women and families. “We’ve received complaints from women and housewives who have stocked their refrigerators with soup ingredients and perishable items that could have lasted for months.
The cost of these outages on the average poor family is unimaginable, especially amid the high cost of living,” he said.
Olubiyo urged President Bola Tinubu to sanction the responsible agencies and restore accountability within the electricity sector.
He further suggested that TCN and AEDC should have taken proactive steps to prevent such disruptions. “They should have secured funds to construct a backup transmission substation at the new site.
Upon completion, they could collaborate with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to string the transmission network (132KV/330KV) effectively,” Olubiyo proposed.
He emphasized the urgent need for presidential intervention to minimize the impact of ongoing developmental projects by the FCT Administration.
“This intervention will help mitigate the devastating effects of these outages on businesses and families,” he added.
The planned blackout has drawn widespread criticism, with many calling for immediate measures to address the failures in the electricity value chain.
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