GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS
DISTINGUISHED INVITED GUESTS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
You are well come to this press briefing organised by the above Association,once more, good morning.
Gentlemen of the press,this press briefing has become important in view of the prevailing power situation in Kogi State.
Electricity, as we all know, plays significant roles in the prosperity and economic development of every nation. No society can grow without adequate power supply and a city like Lokoja and the entirety of Kogi State is known for the entrepreneurial nature of our people.
Microeconomic activities in the state depend on electricity and the people need efficient power supply to that ensures their goods and services are not hampered.
It is sad to learn that on regular basis, the people of the state, beginning with residents of the state capital, Lokoja, have continued to lament drastic drop in power supplies by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), the company saddled with distribution power to the region.
As a body, the Light Up Movement has on several occasions, engaged the leadership of the AEDC on the problems they may face and how such problems could be amicably resolved.
The group is made up of people of rational competence, empathy and intellectual grit; hence our decision to always toe the path of dialogue, positive engagement rather than the confrontation, protests and demonstrations which we believed it may not solve the problems facing our people.
This does not mean the body cannot organize a successful mass peaceful protest capable of crippling the activities of AEDC in the state, especially with regards to the epileptic power supply been face by our people. In fact, several individuals and some aggrieved members have always demanded a more aggressive approach to our demands, but the leadership has chooses to remain constructive and organized in its approach to the electricity situation, problems and how to address them by the AEDC.
Gentlemen of the press,you could recall how the association mobilised to shut down AEDC operations in 2017 when power situation was in similar state.
When compared with the power supply in 2017,fhe current situation is worse,which includes high tariff ,we are therefore calling on the management of AEDC to with immediate effect ,address these issues as their activities have crippled the economy of the state,we need improvement not back forwarding steps.
Currently, we are miffed by the type of services being rendered to customers in Kogi State by the AEDC as it has fallen far below our expectations. We are by this press conference therefore, passing a VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE on the leadership of AEDC in Kogi State.
Like I earlier mentioned, the body is also not finding funny the continued rise in estimated billings customers are being charged as they do not reflect the true consumption by households and businesses in Lokoja.
The nature of supply has exposed families and businesses to criminal activities perpetrated at night when everywhere is dark, resurgence of occultic activities and even exposing AEDC facilities and making them vulnerable to vandalism across the state capital. This is something we strongly frown against.
Consumers are virtually taking over the responsibility of AEDC – buying everything from cables, transformer oils and other equipment and they are still billed highly without recourse to their efforts.
There is also the problem of reoccurring faults on daily basis showing incompetence and lack of investment by the company. Is it time to probe activities of some staff of the AEDC in the recurring decimal of allegations of complicity by workers within the organization?
The movement’s recent efforts to amicably resolve issue on 18th September, 2022 through a stakeholders meeting brought together several groups, community leaders, civil society organizations, traditional and religious bodies to interact with the management of AEDC on issues pertaining to the power challenges in the state. In the end, none of the problems itemized is addressed despite promises by the leadership of staff of the AEDC.
The group has at a point gone round the entire state with the AEDC to sensitize consumers on prompt bill payment and security of installations. The customers listened because they saw sincerity on the path of the body.
Prior to that, the movement had carried out facility assessment across AEDC installations in Lokoja with detailed report filed on how the problems could be addressed. That Report never saw the light of day which is indicative of lack of sincerity or seriousness to adequately nip the problems in the bud.
All of these were done probono. Not a dime was demanded from the AEDC, yet, the problems keep exacerbating.
Furthermore, with the prevailing situation, this movement states the following as its demands;
1. AEDC must stop estimated billing of consumers until they are ready to provide prepaid meter. No meter, no bill
2. No Customer in Lokoja should be placed below Band ‘C’ (Tariff Migration)
3. We demand for a clearly stated period for which damages must be repaired or replaced and failure to do that, the community may choose to repair or replace the facility and have the amount spent spread in their bills
Failure to meet the demands enumerated above, will leave us no choice than to mobilize for the next phase of this demands. Enough of AEDC blackmailing and putting the Movement in bad light in the minds of the public while reneging on all agreements reached in previous engagements.
SIGNED: Illiyasu Zakari, Chairman LIGHT UP MOVEMENT
