Over half of Lafia’s population has been plunged into darkness for five consecutive days following the collapse of four electricity poles along Makurdi road, during a fierce windstorm on Sallah day. The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has yet to replace the critical infrastructure, leaving residents without power and with little hope for a swift resolution.

An investigation by Nasarawa Eye revealed that the poles, which carry 11kVA electricity lines from the Mararaba Junction substation into Lafia town, were brought down by heavy rainfall and strong winds. Despite the urgent nature of the damage, AEDC’s Lafia office has failed to act, reportedly due to a lack of funds.

Sources disclosed that a detailed report on the damage was compiled and forwarded to the regional office in Keffi and copied to the AEDC headquarters in Abuja on Saturday morning. However, no response has been received from either office since then.

Further inquiries revealed systemic challenges within AEDC’s Lafia operations. The local office reportedly functions without any imprest funds to manage emergencies, while the general store has not been restocked with equipment or supplies from the headquarters in six years. In similar past incidents, consumers have been asked to contribute financially toward replacement parts — a practice raising serious questions about AEDC’s capacity and commitment to maintaining its infrastructure.

The cost to replace the four damaged poles is estimated at less than N500,000, a fraction of the economic losses now suffered due to the blackout. Businesses and households are counting the mounting costs of lost productivity and spoiled goods, which experts say run into millions of Naira. Residents also report increased psychological distress amid a concurrent heatwave.

Frustration among the affected population is palpable. Many criticized AEDC’s attitude, especially as over 97 percent of electricity consumers in Lafia are billed on estimated consumption, receiving monthly bills despite the ongoing outage. This, residents argue, highlights a disregard for their welfare.

Calls are growing for greater accountability from AEDC and for urgent intervention by Nasarawa State authorities. Many residents are advocating for the establishment of a state-owned electricity generation and distribution agency to reduce dependence on AEDC and curb what they describe as exploitative practices.

As the blackout stretches into a sixth day, the people of Lafia remain hopeful that their plight will prompt meaningful action and lasting solutions to their electricity woes.

By Nasarawa Eye Correspondent