Youths numbering over 1000 on Friday blocked the Ibrahim Yakowa expressway around the popular Kamazo, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis to protest lack of electricity in their area for nearly a year now.
The youths who came from Janruwa community said they had only one transformer covering the whole area and that the transformer broke down over one year, leaving the area in total darkness.
The youths, both male and female carried leaves and placards with different inscriptions. They also blocked the road on both lanes, hindering all vehicular movements.
The military and police personnel who arrived the scene saw that it was a peaceful demonstration and did nothing to disperse the crowd. The leader of the military advised the youths to go about their demonstration peacefully after they explained their grievances to the security personnel. They did not leave the road until a government functionary came and addressed them, assuring that their matter will be taken up.
One of the demonstrators said: “We came out since 5:00 am to protest over the black out in our area for over a year now. Since last year we have not seen light with our eyes. Our transformer got spoilt and we were promised another. We did not get the other transformer neither did we see light. We have made repeated attempts to get the attention of the government, but all to no avail. That is why we decided to come out en mass to protest peacefully. With this, we are sure of getting government’s attention. Our protest is peaceful; we are not destroying anything and we are not harassing anyone. Our only aim is to make our predicament known, that is all.”
Meanwhile, a swift reaction from the Head, Corporate Communication of Kaduna Electric, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, has assured the Janruwa community of restoration of normal power supply through a statement.
”The Management of Kaduna Electric wishes to express its deep concern over the power supply situation in Janruwa, a community in the suburb of Kaduna. It is pertinent to state that since the failure of the transformer serving the community in August last year, the company has not rest on its oars. On two different occasions within the period under discussion, the company took transformers to the community to ensure restoration of normal power supply, but unfortunately the two transformers failed.
“The current Management of Kaduna Electric appreciates and accord significant importance to constructive engagements with its customers and other stakeholders alike. It is in recognition of this fact that on Tuesday this week, 29th March, the Company held a very fruitful meeting with leaders of Janruwa community led by the Dakachin Janruwa at our Barnawa Area Office. The meeting of course among other things, reviewed the situation and the community leaders were properly briefed on the efforts being made by the company to ensure early restoration of power supply to the community,” the statement read. – The Nation.
