March 28, 2024

At Parley, Electricity Consumers, AEDC, Move to Sustain Improved Power Supply in Kogi

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In line with its vision of ensuring effective service delivery of electricity and consumer satisfaction in Kogi State, a group under the auspices of the Light Up Movement has met with top officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

The stakeholders converged on Lokoja, the Kogi State capital to mark the 3rd annual stakeholders’ engagement/town hall meeting, on Thursday.

Remarking, the Chairman of Light Up Movement, Comr Zakari Illyasu, commended the recent improvement in power supply to the state and harped on the need for stakeholders to work together in ensuring that the gains are sustained. He said the Movement was also committed to ensuring that customers who enjoy such power supply meet up with their obligation.

He noted that the agitation at the first stakeholders engagement centered around the increase of power supply to 8 hours daily, while the second edition was about the increase of power supply from 8 hours to 10-12 hours of supply daily. He commended the AEDC for their recent response to issues and the current improvement from 12 to 22 hours daily.

Iliyasu emphasized the importance of power supply to the local economy, adding that the essence of this year’s stakeholders’ engagement was to evaluate the present power situation and chart a way forward.

On his part, the Kogi Regional Manager of AEDC, Engr. Lamidi Obadaki, represented by the Head Technical, Engr. Abdul Bashar, commended the Light Up Movement for providing the platform for stakeholders to meet annually to have an evaluation of performances and to address pressing issues affecting customers and the service provider.

He noted that there has been tremendous Improvement in service delivery nights from 2017 when the platform was created, adding that it is due to her progressive disposition and the desire of the company to meet the demands of customers.

The regional manager further appealed to customers for reciprocity in terms of bill payment stressing that when bills are paid more improvement will be seen in the supply of energy to customers.

He also tasked stakeholders to take the front line in ensuring that electrical installations in their communities are not vandalized, stressing that vandalism creates untold inconvenience for both the company and the consumers. He advised on energy conservation as the way to go given the increase in power consumption

Former Speaker of the Kogi state House of Assembly, Rt Hon Umar Ahmed Iman, in his message lauded the Improvement of power supply by the AEDC. He however called on the management of AEDC to take proactive steps in the provision of prepaid meters to customers across the state, noting that most of the Issues raised on unpaid bills hampering the delivery of more hours of light in the state will be addressed effortlessly if a majority of the customers are metered.

Representative of Lokoja LGA Chairman, lauded the efforts of AEDC in recent times while underlying the abnormality faced by citizens in some communities regarding the uniformity of bills to unmetered homes and businesses. He called on the AEDC to look into the issue and provide immediate solutions.

In his goodwill message, Alhaji Zakariya Idakwoji, representative of the Kogi State Council of Ulama’u, commended the leadership of the light-up movement while requesting assistance from the AEDC’s regional manager. He praised the effort of the state government for supporting energy supply to its citizens in comparison to other administrations.

While calling on critical stakeholders to ensure the security and protection of facilities in their communities, the cleric also urged the AEDC to address the issue of illicit light tapping in some neighborhoods.

Also in attendance were traditional rulers, community heads, artisans, heads of security agencies, and other critical stakeholders who took turns to state the issues in their respective domains, while the AEDC Lokoja Area Manager, Mr. Danladi Baba, and the Area Manager (Special Project) Ganaja, Emmanuel Ajibogun were on hand to give responses to enlighten and clarify grey areas.

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