Abuja Power Crisis: AEDC Communities Suffer Erratic Supply

Residents in several communities on the outskirts of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, are enduring a severe electricity shortage that has disrupted daily life and local commerce for over two months.

The affected areas, including Kurudu, Orozo, and Karshi in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as Mararaba Loko in neighbouring Nasarawa State, are served by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC). Supply has become highly irregular, with many households reporting power availability for only a few seconds per day. This instability has created significant hardship, forcing businesses to rely on expensive diesel generators and leading to what residents describe as disproportionately high estimated bills despite minimal usage.

Small business owners have been particularly impacted. Jennifer, a hairdresser in Kurudu, said generator costs at N1,300 per litre have made operations nearly unsustainable. Welder Mr. Ogidi stated he has lost multiple jobs due to unpredictable supply, noting, “Electricity comes for just a few seconds and goes off again.” Mrs. Udoka, who operates a cold room for perishable goods, has temporarily closed her business, citing the prohibitive cost of generator fuel. A local laundry operator described receiving power for “like 1 minute” before it cuts out.

In Mararaba Loko, tailor Mrs. Chidera reported that electricity “comes once in a blue moon,” creating impossible planning conditions. She added that prepaid meters continue to register consumption rapidly even during the rare periods of supply, a concern echoed by others facing estimated billing.

AEDC acknowledged the complaints via social media, apologizing and stating the situation was not deliberate. A company statement assured residents that supply would normalize “once the allocation improves,” implying constraints from the national grid. However, affected residents argue that two months of near-total deprivation is unacceptable and are demanding urgent, substantive intervention.

The crisis highlights the vulnerability of communities at the end of distribution networks, where supply instability compounds existing economic pressures. While the company points to broader generation challenges, locals stress that prolonged disruption is unsustainable for both households and small enterprises, calling for immediate operational solutions alongside longer-term infrastructure improvements.

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