Residents demand end to billing without electricity supply, insist on prepaid meters and improved power infrastructure.
Residents of Minna in Niger State have staged a protest against the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), accusing the company of issuing estimated electricity bills despite poor or nonexistent power supply.
The protesters, made up of community members and civil society groups, marched through parts of the state capital carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Stop Billing Us For Power We Didn’t Get” and “No Light, No Bill.” They expressed frustration over what they described as persistent power outages and unfair electricity charges imposed on households and businesses.
According to the residents, many communities in Minna experience prolonged blackouts yet continue to receive high estimated bills from the electricity distribution company. They argued that the billing system is exploitative and places additional hardship on families already struggling with the rising cost of living.
The protesters also demanded the immediate installation of prepaid meters to eliminate estimated billing and promote transparency in electricity consumption. They further called on the company to repair damaged transformers and upgrade power infrastructure to ensure stable electricity supply across affected communities.
Leaders of the protest issued a 90-day ultimatum to AEDC to address the concerns raised by residents. They warned that failure to improve power supply, stop estimated billing, and fix faulty infrastructure within the given timeframe could lead to further protests and possible legal action.
Residents emphasized that access to reliable electricity is vital for economic activities and small businesses, insisting that consumers should not be compelled to pay for electricity they did not receive. They also urged relevant regulatory authorities in the power sector to intervene and ensure fairness and accountability in electricity billing.
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