Residents of some parts of Lafia, the state capital, have endured a severe blackout for almost ten days, prompting sharp criticism of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and the Nasarawa State government.

The power outage, which began just before the Eid El Kabir celebrations, was triggered by the collapse of electric poles along Makurdi Road during a heavy rainstorm. Since then, no efforts to restore electricity have been reported, leaving affected communities in complete darkness.

Malam Ibrahim Sulaiman Habu, a public affairs analyst in Lafia, has condemned both AEDC and state authorities for their inaction. He accused the agencies of neglect and called for urgent intervention to alleviate the hardship faced by residents.

“There has been almost a ten-day blackout, and AEDC has failed to restore power. It appears they may be waiting for public contributions to fund the repairs, a recurring issue with this agency,” Habu said.

Despite the prolonged outage, oversight bodies charged with monitoring AEDC’s performance remain inactive, and political leaders at both the state and local levels have shown little concern. Observers note that many politicians have access to alternative energy sources, which may explain their apparent indifference.

Residents, increasingly frustrated, have threatened to boycott the 2027 elections as a form of protest against the ongoing neglect and poor management of essential services.

The blackout has severely disrupted daily life, highlighting broader issues of accountability and efficiency within the agencies responsible for electricity supply in Nasarawa State.

As the crisis continues, residents and stakeholders await prompt action to restore power and prevent further hardship.