*Kaduna Electric blames TCN
By; IBRAHIM ADAMU, Kaduna.
Residents of Kaduna metropolis have cried out over poor or complete lack of electricity supply, describing the development as disturbing and worrisome.
Worst-hit areas are the city centre known as commercial and business nerves of the state capital, Kurmin-Mashi, Tudun-Wada among others, whose residents are into a fourth day without electricity.
While residents with supply, hardly enjoy three straight hours of electricity, according to New Nigerian findings.
Kakuri, Barnawa, Sabo, Television, Rigasa, Ungwar Muazu among others are enjoying epileptic electricity supply of an average of three hours daily.
Our correspondent who went round some areas in the state capital, reports frustrations and helplessness of residents, particularly artisans who rely on public power supply to earn a living.
A welder, Bolaji Yusuf with a stand in part of the city where electricity was last supplied five days ago, decried the sad situation, saying he could barely feed his family since the blackout began.
“We have found ourselves in an unfortunate situation where We are left to our fate with nobody to run to for help to assuage the pathetic development.
“Most of us here solely depend on Kaduna Electric for electricity supply to run our trade but unfortunately we have not seen light for five straight days now, “he lamented.
A business cafe owner in Tudun Wada district of the city who simply identified herself as Mama Sikiru said zero supply of electricity for straight five days had crippled commercial activities in the area, adding that most of her colleagues operating a similar venture had stopped coming to open their shops for business.
“I spend an average of 2,500 naira everyday to power my generator since the total blackout began almost five days now.
“Expending on diesel has taken a chunk of what We make from this business.
“We are passionately appealing to Kaduna Electric to resolve the issue we learnt they’re having with transmission companies so that we will have back power supplies, ” she pleaded.
A resident of Sabon Gari, Tudun Wada who preferred to speak on anonymity questioned the rationale of privatizing distribution of electricity to incapable hands with prior experience and financial muzzles to effectively provide stable power to Nigerians.
“Nigerians are yet to get value for their money since the privatization of the power sector, particularly the transmission and distribution arms.
“It has been frustrations upon frustrations due to inadequate power and sometimes zero supply with exorbitant charges with no corresponding service.
“We were assured we would be metered and charged based on energy consumed with robust and improved supply but the reverse is the case after over a decade of privatizing the energy sector.
“Urgent steps need to be taken before the situations deteriorates beyond redemption, “he advised.
Alhaji Musa, a Frozen food operator said he had lost hundred of thousands of naira to purchasing diesel to power his generators since the total blackouts commenced, urging Kaduna Electric to urgently resolve her issue with TCN so that service would be reinstalled.
Head of corporate communication of Kaduna Electric in a statement explained that the sad development was as a result of the action of market operators of Transportation Company of Nigeria of disconnecting some feeders of Discos from the National Grid.
“The Management of Kaduna Electric expresses great concern over the disconnection of some of our feeders from the power grid by the Market Operator.
“The affected feeders are; 33KV Abakpa, 33KV Doka and 33KV Mogadishu. Therefore, communities and neighborhoods feeding from these sources have been out of power supply since midnight when the disconnection was effected midnight on Tuesday, April 26th, 2023.
“This action by the Market Operator is as a result of poor remittance by Kaduna Electric and other defaulting players to the market.
“We seize this opportunity to restate that as a company, we prioritize providing reliable and uninterrupted power supply to our customers. However, to maintain this level of service, we require timely payment for the energy consumed. Payment for electricity is essential to ensure the sustainability of our operations, and it is a responsibility that we all share.
“We apologise for the inconvenience this action by the Market Operator has caused and the impact it will have on your daily activities.
“We are working closely with all stakeholders to find a sustainable solution to the situation.
“Our goal is to restore power supply to all our customers as soon as possible.
“We appeal to all our customers to honor their payment obligations promptly to ensure continuous and uninterrupted power supply,” the statement added.
