A Kogi State-based pressure group, “Light up Movement”, has demanded an end to the regime of estimated billing by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), in the state.
The chairman of the group, Illiyasu Zakari, who addressed a press conference on Friday in Lokoja said no customer of the AEDC in the state should be placed below Band ‘C’ (tariff migration)
The group also demanded a clearly stated period for which damage must be repaired or replaced, failure of which the community might choose to repair or replace the facility and have the amount spent spread in their bills
“Failure to meet the demands enumerated above will leave us with no choice than to mobilise for the next phase of these demands. Enough of the AEDC blackmailing and putting the movement in bad light in the minds of the public while reneging on all agreements reached in previous engagements”, the group stated.
Earlier, the group’s chairman, Ilyasu Zakaria, expressed disappointment over the epileptic power supply in the state which he claimed had impacted negatively on its economy.
“Electricity, as we all know, plays a significant role in the prosperity and economic development of every nation. No society can grow without adequate power supply and a city like Lokoja and the entire Kogi State are known for the entrepreneurial nature of our people.
Microeconomic activities in the state depend on electricity and the people need efficient power supply to that ensures their goods and services are not hampered,” Zakaria said.
According to him, “It is sad to learn that on a regular basis, the people of the state, beginning with residents of the state capital, Lokoja, have continued to lament the drastic drop in power supplies by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, the company saddled with the distribution power to the region”.
He said that the AEDC had reneged on several agreements reached on ways to improve supply adding that the present situation had become worse and must be improved upon.
“We are miffed by the type of service being rendered to customers in Kogi State by the AEDC as it has fallen far below our expectations. We are by this press conference therefore, passing a Vote of no confidence in the leadership of AEDC in Kogi State”.
