Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have reported mixed experiences with electricity supply, with some noting improvements during the recent Easter period while others continue to face persistent outages.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday, residents from areas including Bwari, Lugbe, and parts of Kubwa said power supply had improved in their neighbourhoods during the festive season. Others, however, reported ongoing challenges, with some receiving less than a few hours of electricity daily.
The accounts come against the backdrop of assurances from the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who on March 24 pledged that electricity supply would improve within two weeks. He also apologised for the current unreliable power situation and announced the formation of a committee to address the issue, citing positive feedback from gas suppliers and timelines for pipeline repairs.
In Kubwa, business owner Stephen Omede said power had improved during the Easter break, possibly linked to the N3.3 trillion approval aimed at clearing legacy debt in the power sector. Fashion designer Ndidi Obi said she had slept with light for the first time in six months, while welder Samuel Agim reported an increase from about four to eight hours of electricity daily in Lugbe.
However, not all residents shared the same experience. Businesswoman Akugbe Odigie from Kuje said erratic supply had driven up operational costs, forcing many businesses to rely on expensive generators amid fuel prices of N1,300 to N1,400 per litre. She warned that the situation is crippling small and medium enterprises and urged the Federal Government to act urgently.
Others, like barber Thompson Gbeba in Lugbe and restaurant operator Happiness Onoja in Kubwa, said the unreliable supply had severely disrupted their livelihoods. Gbeba called for improved infrastructure to ensure steady power, while Onoja said she had been forced to close her business due to the high cost of running a generator.
Fashion designer Benson Edet in Bwari welcomed the minister’s pledge but stressed that the government must take all necessary steps to improve power supply to enable citizens and businesses to thrive.
The contrasting experiences highlight the uneven nature of electricity distribution in the FCT, even as authorities promise short-term improvements in the national grid.
