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Tag: Power outage

  • Council chief begs residents for patience over power outage

    Council chief begs residents for patience over power outage

    The Chairman of Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Princess Surah Olayemi Animashaun, has again pleaded with residents to show understanding with regard to the current power outage in the council.

    She made the plea with the aggrieved residents, protesting over the power outage in a statement she signed and made available to newsmen in Epe.

    Animashaun noted that the local government council and two LCDAs (Agbowa/Eredo and Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDAs) were doing everything possible to make sure that power was restored to the council area.

    She maintained that the total blackout was not actually the fault of anybody, noting that all hands were on deck to sort it out within a short period of time.

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    “Indeed, our major problem in this city now is the total blackout, a very sad one, but it was not caused by any of us but vandals in the council, who are bent on damaging our cables.

    “As a government, we will continue to encourage all of us to be patient because we know that the government is doing so much in conjunction with Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) to ensure that power returns to the council.

    She explained that the plea became imperative in view of the lingering power outage being faced by the council’s residents some months back.

    She appealed to all the affected residents and customers to be patient and consider what had happened as a destiny from the Almighty God that nobody could have averted.

  • Power outage: UCH resident doctors begin indefinite strike

    Power outage: UCH resident doctors begin indefinite strike

    One of them days 2025Members of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan have embarked on an indefinite strike, an official said yesterday.

    The association’s General Secretary, Dr Uthman Adedeji, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan that the strike was due to power outage in some of the hospital’s residential areas.

    The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) reconnected UCH last Wednesday, after more than 100 days of power outage.

    The association had earlier issued a communiqué that members would embark on an indefinite strike if electricity was not restored not later than 4pm on Monday (yesterday).

    Adedeji said while electricity had been restored; only some parts of the residential quarters were reconnected.

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    “Arising from the just-concluded Emergency General Meeting (EGM) of ARD UCH, which was convened to appraise the current situation, it was observed that a part of the residential quarters were reconnected.

    “Some other parts were, however, left in darkness.

    “In the light of the prevailing circumstance, we are left with no other option but to embark on the earlier planned total and indefinite strike until all residential quarters are sorted (taken care of).

    “We acknowledge the efforts of the UCH management towards meeting our demand, but a lot needs to be done in order to guarantee uninterrupted service delivery.”

    Adedeji assured that the association would regularly review the current imbroglio infringing on the welfare of its members.

  • ‘Power outage, tariff hike threaten broadcasting’ 

    ‘Power outage, tariff hike threaten broadcasting’ 

    Power outage, hike in telco tariffs, among other challenges, will cripple broadcasting industry in Nigeria, the management of Inspiration Radio Station in Akwa Ibom State has said.

    It said National Assembly’s plan to enact laws to increase telecoms tariff would automatically bring down operations of broadcast stations and shut their businesses nationwide.

    The radio station also observed that power outage had made the cost of production more expensive, considering the high cost of diesel to run broadcast stations.

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    Speaking in Uyo yesterday during the new year thanksgiving service at Solid Rock Kingdom Church, the General Manager of Inspiration 105.9 Radio Station, Rev Silas Ufot, said if the telecoms companies should increase their tariffs, broadcast stations might have low patronage by subscribers.

    He listed other challenges to include high cost of diesel, unfriendly economy, inflation and low patronage.

    Ufot, who led other workers to the thanksgiving service, said the planned tariff hike would reduce the number of callers on their phone-in programmes and cut down audience interactivity/participation, as well as patronage.

  • ‘Power outage, hike tariff threaten broadcasting in Nigeria’

    ‘Power outage, hike tariff threaten broadcasting in Nigeria’

    Power outages, hike in telco tariffs among other challenges will cripple the broadcasting industry in Nigeria, the management of Inspiration Radio station in Akwa Ibom state has said.

    It said that the National Assembly’s plan to enact laws to increase telecom tariff will automatically bring down operations of broadcast stations and shut their business nationwide.

    The Radio Station also observed that power outage has made the cost of production more expensive considering the high cost of diesel to run broadcast stations. 

    Speaking in Uyo Akwa Ibom state capital yesterday during the new Thanksgiving Service at Solid Rock Kingdom Church , the General Manager of Inspiration 105.9 Radio Station Rev Silas Ufot stated if the telecom companies will increase their tariffs , broadcast stations may have low patronage  by subscribers . 

    He listed other challenges to include high cost of diesel, unfriendly economy, inflation and low patronage. 

    Silas who led other staff for the Thanksgiving Service said the planned tariff hike will reduce  number of callers on their phone-in programmes and cut down audience interactivity/ participation as well as patronage . 

     “I pray the tariffs will not start now. I don’t know if it has been signed into law already. 

    “It will affect  station callers that phone-in during our Radio  programmes. We will not have robust interactive session on our Radio station  any longer. 

    “And when the tarrif is hiked, so many things are involved. Some of the stations that are live streaming using data will certainly suffer. 

    “This means that many subscribers who are using data will stop their subscriptions. 

    Silas therefore urged the federal government to intervene in the planned telecom hike to save broadcasting industry from total collapse .

    “Already some broadcast stations have fold up . We have some broadcast stations in Ibadan and parts of Lagos that are not operating any longer. 

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    “Others have received License but can not commence operations because of power problems.”

    The Station Manager said he thank God for helping the station to operate in the last 8 years despite harsh economic situation, power outage and other unfriendly business climate in the nation. 

    However, the founder of the church Apostle  Dr John Okoriko who preached on theme “The Heart of Gratitude” encouraged the Radio  station to continue to be the voice for the voiceless and remain a family Radio Station, adding that the family is smaller unit of the society. 

    “Thanksgiving involve the heart , the hand and the mind. Continue in your good works for you shall reap in due season.”

  • Ekiti residents protest prolonged power outage

     

    Residents of Ado Ekiti, capital of Ekiti state, on Friday protested prolonged power blackout in some areas of the city which they linked to alleged sabotage.

    The protesters included traders, artisans, students and other electricity consumers living in Similoluwa and Ori Apata areas of the state capital.

    They accused workers of BEDC of removing the cables of the transformers serving their areas to throw them into darkness and subject them to undue extortion.

    Some of their placards read: “Give us our cable wire, we need light” “BEDC stop! Stop!! Marginalisation,” “Return our cable” “It is over a month we have light” among other inscriptions.

    Leader of the protesters, Mr. Tope Ojo, disclosed the only transformer serving the area is old and could no longer dispense electricity to the area as appropriate.

    Ojo lamented the arbitrary service and non-challant attitude of the staff of BEDC in restoring electricity to the area.

    READ ALSO: Robbers kill policeman in Ekiti

    He said the development has paralysed their businesses and thereby brought untold hardship to the residents of the area.

    He explained the removal of the cable from the transformer was responsible for the automatic disengagement of the area from the national grid, thereby, putting the residents of the area into to total blackout.

    Ojo alleged that no individuals could remove the cable, except professionals from the electricity company.

    According to him, the people of the area resulted to protest after BEDC management in Ado Ekiti turned deaf ears to series of complaint to them.

    He claimed the electricity distribution firm deliberately made pre-paid meters unavailable to continue billing residents outrageously without any service to show for it.

    Ojo said: “Our area has been in total blackout for over a month and this was as a result of a cable which was removed from the only transformer serving our area down to Ori Apata.

    “This transformer is even old. It has been there for over 46 years. It lacks the capacity to supply adequate power to our area.

    “We have been to BEDC times without number but they seem not to be coming forth, that was why we decided to come to the deputy governor today, to help us intervene in this matter.”

    In expressing their grievances, the placard-carrying residents stormed the Deputy Governor’s Office, urging the state government to prevail on Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to restore light to their areas.

    The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, urged the protesting residents to exercise patience while their complaints are being looked into.

     

  • Power outage at Lagos Airport

    Part of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, was yesterday thrown into darkness following power outage.

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) blamed the outage on “a minor electrical fault”.

    The outage occurred at the D Wing which comprise the Arrival Lokage and other sections.

    FAAN General Manager, Corporate Affairs Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu said the development was nothing to worry about.

    Read also: FAAN aviation security personnel slumps, dies at Lagos airport

    She said: “FAAN wishes to inform the public of a temporary power outage at the D Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. “The outage is due to a minor electrical fault. “Our engineers are already working to rectify the fault and normalcy will be restored soon.”

    Yakubu explained that the outage did not affect flight operations.

    She said FAAN remained committed to the safety and comfort of travellers.

     

  • KEDCO blames faulty transformer for power outage

    The management of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has blamed recent shortage in power supply to its franchise areas to the breakdown of a 150MVA transformer at the Kumbotso Transmission Station.

    Its Head of Corporate Communications, Sani Bala Sani, said the 150MVA transformer developed fault at exactly 0530hrs on  January 1 and since then, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) crew has been working to fix the fault.

    “Originally, the spoilt 150MVA transformer supplies entire Hadejia, Daura, Kankia and environs, part of Katsina and Dakata in Kano. Albeit temporary measures have been employed to supply these areas on a rationing basis, supply has drastically reduced.

    “Recall that in November 2014, a 150MVA transformer was lost due to a fire outbreak which reduced the installed capacity of the Kumbotso Transmission Station to 450MVA from 600MVA. Now the entire KEDCO franchise area is left with a meagre 300MVA which has resulted to supply rationing in the three states of our operations,” he said in a statment.

    The statement added that, before the transformer was lost, KEDCO had been managing to cater for all categories of customers in the three states of its operations including Azare in Bauchi State and Gazoua in Niger Republic.

    Sani also quoted the company’s Chief Technical Officer, Engr. David Omoloye as saying “several meetings have been held in a bid to secure the replacement of the burnt 150MVA transformer since 2014 to no avail and now another 150MVA has developed fault which has negative impact on our customer satisfaction efforts and business generally.

    “Kano which is industrial and commercial hub of northern Nigeria should be given undivided priority in terms of power infrastructure; thus without stable and quality supply, businesses would be crippled which is against our collective will”

    Sani called on customers in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa to exercise patience as management is already making efforts with the TCN to ensure speedy repair or replacement of the faulty transformers.

  • DisCo: power outage in Mushin not intentional

    The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) yesterday denied deliberately throwing some residents of Ilasamaja in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State into darkness to force them to pay their bills.

    In a statement, the firm described as false the residents’ claim that the blackout was ploy to get them to pay what they called “outrageous bills.”

    The Igbehin Adun, Ifetedo, Ishokan and Ifesowapo communities on Monday said their lights were cut because of their refusal to pay the bills.

    EKEDC’s Corporate Communications General Manager Godwin Idemudia explained that the power outage was originally caused by a faulty 11kv feeder in Ilasamaja that tripped on August 24.

    The company, he said, made efforts to restore light but the residents refused the technical crew access to the faulty feeder.

    He said efforts made to dialogue with the community’s representatives to resolve the issue proved abortive.  Rather than embrace peace, they filed a petition against the power distribution company at the Area D Command Police Station in Mushin, he said.

    “The company has made efforts to restore electricity to the areas, having identified the problem, but was restricted by members of the communities.

    “Some members of the communities refused our technical crew access to rectify the faults; this was why the company withdrew its workers for safety.

    “We have appealed to members of the affected areas, especially in Ilasamaja, Mushin Local Government Area, to embrace dialogue in settling the dispute, but rather they preferred violence.

    “Such violent act has made the company’s management to withdraw its workers from the area for their safety,” he said.

    The bills, Idemudia said, had an average of 15 hours power supply daily before the incident, adding that the company would never intentionally put customers in darkness.

  • ‘Our husbands abandon us over six yrs power outage’

    Hundreds of women from Alaba-Oro, Mosafejo and Amukoko area of Lagos on Thursday stormed the Marina headquarters of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), protesting over six years epileptic power supply.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the all-women protesters prevented workers and visitors from entering EKEDC premises and caused traffic gridlock on the ever-busy Lagos Marina.

    The placard-carrying women, who chanted solidarity songs, said their husbands have abandoned their respective homes due to the epileptic power supply in the areas.

    “Women in the communities decided to come to Marina today because our men are no longer staying at home due to power outage.

    “Most of our husbands now stay late nights outside because they know there won’t be electricity at home,’’ said Mrs Oluwatoyin Osunlowo, spokesperson of the women protesters.

    Osunlowo said that the communities had been experiencing epileptic power supply since 2013.

    “For the past six years, we do not sleep with power supply in the communities.

    “If they will bring electricity at all, they used to give us in the afternoons between 1p.m and 2p.m and that is all.

    “Then at the end of the month, they will give us outrageous bills without enjoying the supply,’’ she said.

    Another protester, Mrs Mojisola Olaosebikan, said she had closed her frozen food shop at Mosafejo Market due to the epileptic supply.

    “Our business involves power supply but due to the irregular supply, some of us who sell frozen foods are running at a loss, now we are out of business.

    “We are appealing to the officials of Eko Disco to come to our aid and give us power supply in our community,’’ she said.

    Addressing the women, EKEDC Chief Executive, Adeoye Fadeyibi, urged the protesters to be patient with the company.

    Fadeyibi advised the protesters to submit a formal complaint letter and assured that the company would treat their grievances as a matter of urgency.

    He promised that the company would do everything possible to ensure regular power supply to the areas and advised the protesters to also ensure regular payment of electricity bills.

  • ‘Why Akwa Ibom has power outage’

    ‘Why Akwa Ibom has power outage’

    Akwa Ibom State is experiencing distribution and transmission problems, the Ibom Power Company Limited has said.

    Head of Plant Operations Aniebiet Umoh, said: “Ibom Power Unit 3 has been producing an average of 112 mw every day, there is no reason Akwa Ibom State should be without power supply at any time, if the distribution systems are on.

    “Feeder Details in Akwa Ibom State estimate the total capacity of the three major Injection substations responsible for distribution of electricity at 159mw – Eket (56mw), Uyo (64mw) and Itu (39mw).

    “Recently, the 132kV transmission line from Itu, in Akwa Ibom State to Aba, in Abia State snapped which disconnected the State from the national grid. Ibom power Management pre-empted this occurrence when they installed a Dead bus technology which allows Ibom plant to operate on island mode giving power to Akwa Ibom state independent of the national grid.”

    He explained that on island mode, over 100mw produced by Ibom power plant can be utilised in Akwa Ibom as long as Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) picks the minimum 10mw load requirement for the plant to remain on the mode.

    “When the minimum load was not picked we had to shut down the plant until the line from Itu was reconnected,” Umoh said.

    The Head, PHEDC Integrated Business Centre which covers Eket region, Akanimoh Ekpe, said as a  safety precaution, PHEDC turned-off its system in the region when the Itu – Aba line snapped. He said after taking the necessary precautions when PHEDC was ready to turn on their system, Ibom power was already shut down.

    He said PHEDC was working with Ibom Power and Akwa Ibom State government on distribution network system improvement through the “Power for all” initiative, which includes metering all customers in Akwa Ibom. He added that implementation of the power for all initiative will enhance sustainability of steady power supply across the State.