By Sarah NEGEDU
The FCT Administration has raised alarm over the redirection of power feeder lines meant for Airport facilities and street light installations along the Airport Expressway.
Specifically, the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, frowned at situations where the H23 power line which was constructed to feed only the Airport facilities are now being used to power other consumers.
Coordinator of the AMMC, Umar Shuaibu, told newsmen that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, has continued to supply other consumers despite efforts to ensure that the feeder only serves the airport.
He disclosed that the H23 currently serve consumers such as Air force Base, Nigerian Correctional Services, Immigration Headquarters, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dunamis Centre, River Park Estate, Obasanjo Space Centre, National Biotechnology Development Agency, Shoprite, among others.
Shuaibu who blamed the distribution company for the poor lightening of street in the FCT said, “It is expected that with the huge investment and cooperation of the FCTA to ensure smooth running of its services, the AEDC will efficiently provide adequate power to serve the vital infrastructure in the city. Unfortunately, the failure of the AEDC to live up to their responsibilities is unjustifiably mistaken for lack of performance by the FCT Administration.”
According to him, the FCTA has made payment up to the tone of N2,055,231,626.39 as electricity bills to the AEDC for the year 2021, stressing that the FCTA is not indebted whatsoever to the company, as all outstanding bills were paid for the preceding years.
Shuaibu said in the past two years, the FCTA has made concerted efforts to ensure steady and uninterrupted power supply to streetlight facilities in the city through strategic interventions by the Administration.
He added that to provide effective service to residents of the FCT, the Council undertook steps to sustain and illuminate major streets of the nation’s capital, which led to partnership with AEDC towards fashioning out road map for resolving the issue of incessant power shortage in Federal Capital City.
He added that presently, there are a total number of 3,000 stand-alone solar powered street lights in the city, in line with the efforts to promote Eco-friendly energy supply system.
According to him, during an inspection tour round the city, where it was observed that street lights were illuminating all the major roads except where and when the AEDC did not provide power due to some technical problems from their part.
He lamented that the AEDC is always found wanting in discharging it responsibilities, which is unjustifiably mistaken for lack performance by the FCTA.
The AMMC coordinator however expressed optimism that with huge investment and cooperation of the FCTA to ensure smooth running of its services, the AEDC will efficiently provide adequate power to serve the vital infrastructure in the city.
