Aggrieved youths of Tunga, Kpakungu, Soje, Morris and Barkin-Salle, have taken to the metropolis of Minna, Niger State, to protest the epileptic electricity supply in the state capital by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
The Youths in their hundreds on Monday morning blocked all the major entering points to the state as early as 7:00am, resulting in a heavy vehicular traffic.
The placard carrying youths are protesting what they called unacceptable epileptic power supply by AEDC in the state which they said, has crippled business and commercial activities in the sate.
Electricity consumers of Minna and its environ only enjoyed six hours of power supply everyday with three hours in the morning (9am-12:00pm) and three hours in the night (9:00pm-12:00pm).
This development, the youths said is unacceptable because of the contribution of Niger state to power in the country as the host state to three hydro electricity dams.
The outraged youths also sent away the Secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ahmed Matane, who came to appeal to them to open up the roads and stop their protest.
They demanded the presence of the state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello whom they accused of turning his eyes away from sufferings of the people as a result of the poor power supply.
The youths declared they were tired of the epileptic power supply, saying the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) was taking residents for granted and vowed to close the road for 24 hours until the Governor shows up.
The youths blocked the ever busy Minna-Bida road (Kpakungun road) resulting in a heavy traffic.
It is the road that connects north and the southern parts of the country at the moment.
Motorists, especially those traveling to the south were still stranded as at the time of filing these reports as every appeal to the youths to open the road fell on their deaf eyes.
The youths carried different placards, some which read, “enough is enough”, “no to estimated billing”, “no to 2 hours of light”, “if AEDC cannot give us light, they should pack and go”, “we no go gree” amongst others.
Efforts of the State Government to bring the protest to an end failed as the SSG hurriedly left amid boos and chants.
One of the Councillors representing Minna South Ward, Aminu Ladan, told reporters that was zero response from the authorities, saying the protest was peaceful and responsible.
“As you can see, the SSG was driven away in anger and the message he brought could not be passed. My people are demanding for the presence of the Governor.
“As a political office holder, I understand that the SSG is a representative of the Governor but the people do not understand that. They are not convinced and they want the governor to come himself,” he said.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution (AEDC) has appealed to the Federal Government to reduce the 45 per cent import duties on meters to aid effective supply to customers.
(Sharp Reporters)
