Residents of Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, continue to grapple with a frustrating paradox: proximity to Nigeria’s seat of power has not translated into reliable electricity. More than a decade after the unbundling of the former National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), expectations of improved service delivery remain largely unmet in this part of the country.
When Nigeria restructured its power sector in 2013, the creation of regional distribution companies (DisCos) was meant to decentralize operations, improve efficiency, and attract private investment. In that transition, Nasarawa State aligned itself with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), rather than the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC). The logic at the time appeared appropriate: geographic and economic closeness to Abuja would, in theory, guarantee more stable and responsive electricity supply.
However, more than ten years on, that decision is increasingly being questioned.
Critics argue that AEDC’s operational priorities are disproportionately skewed toward Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital. As the administrative and political nerve center of the country, Abuja naturally commands higher energy demand and attention. But this has created what many in Lafia perceive as an energy imbalance.
Electricity allocation, especially during periods of generation shortfall, appears to favour Abuja, leaving franchise states like Nasarawa with erratic supply. Residents report prolonged outages, low voltage, and delayed response to faults—issues that have stifled small businesses and strained household livelihoods.
AEDC has also faced criticism over infrastructure maintenance and customer service. Aging transformers, overloaded feeders, and slow fault repairs have compounded the situation. For many communities in Lafia, electricity remains more  pathetic and disastrous.
This stands in contrast to neighboring states such as Plateau State and Benue State, both serviced by JEDC. While not without their own challenges, these states are widely perceived to enjoy relatively steadier power supply. The difference has fueled debate over whether Nasarawa made the wrong strategic choice for aligning with AEDC.
Calls are now growing louder for Nasarawa State to reconsider its alignment with AEDC. Advocates for change argue that switching to JEDC could offer a more balanced distribution framework, given its regional focus and reportedly better service consistency in similar socio-economic environments.
Now that we have our own regulatory agency, the switchover to the Jos Distribution Company will not be a problem.While the argument for realignment is gaining traction, energy experts says  the root of Nigeria’s electricity crisis runs deeper than distribution boundaries. There is the issue of generation shortfalls, transmission bottlenecks, and regulatory inefficiencies, but our 330 KVA Akurba sub station as well as our regulatory agency can do the magic if we are serious.
However for Lafia, the immediate concern remains clear: access to reliable power is not just a convenience—it is a necessity for economic growth, healthcare delivery, education, and overall quality of life.
As frustrations mount, the electricity situation in Lafia calls for serious attention from the state government whether through renegotiation with AEDC, or through a potential shift to JEDC.
However, for Lafia, the promise of 330 KVA Akurba sub- station remains unfulfilled.