Residents of Ako Tapi, a community on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Orozo, have alleged that officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) demanded N300,000 before reconnecting the community’s faulty transformer. The residents claim this is not the first time they have been forced to pay exorbitant sums to AEDC officials for repairs.
Several residents expressed their frustrations to Abuja City Journal, describing a pattern of extortion whenever the community experiences power outages due to transformer issues. According to Mr. Aloh Ogbende, a community leader, the AEDC officials have made it a practice to demand payment before attending to faults in the transformer. He lamented that the community has been subjected to repeated extortion, which has now become a norm.
“This is not the first time this has happened. Every time there is an issue with the transformer, AEDC officials insist we pay them large sums before they fix it,” Ogbende explained. “It’s unfair, and we are appealing to the government to step in and address this exploitation. We are tired of being at their mercy.”
Similarly, James Ochanya, a motorcycle rider in the community, believes the AEDC officials are complicit in the frequent transformer breakdowns. He speculated that certain parts are deliberately removed from the transformer and sold, necessitating repeated repairs at the expense of the community.
“No outsider would tamper with the transformer without the AEDC officials being involved. How else would this keep happening? It’s like a cycle—something breaks, and then they demand money from us to fix it,” Ochanya said. “We are left to pay each time, and it’s not fair.”
In light of the serious allegations raised by residents of Ako Tapi community regarding extortion by officials of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Abuja City Journal took immediate steps to reach out to AEDC representatives through their Rapid Response numbers. However, these efforts yielded mixed results, leaving several key questions unanswered.
PaulMary Onwuzulike, one of the AEDC officials listed under the Rapid Response team, failed to return our calls despite multiple attempts to establish contact. Olaitan Adeyeye, another AEDC official on the Rapid Response team, could not be reached as his number was consistently unavailable. Joseph Ikawo, the only official to answer Abuja City Journal‘s call, redirected our reporter to the AEDC Customer Care line for further clarification. While Ikawo’s response was brief, his suggestion to defer inquiries to customer care seemed to reflect AEDC’s reluctance to directly address the allegations of extortion made by the community. Our reporter was left with the impression that the company’s representatives may be hesitant to engage directly on the issue or that AEDC’s internal communication might be disjointed.
Another staff member, who chose to remain anonymous as he was not authorized to speak on the matter, denied the allegations of extortion. Speaking with Abuja City Journal, he stated that the AEDC was working to fix the transformer and promised that the community would be reconnected to electricity soon. When asked whether the community had contributed to the cost of the repairs, the staff member neither confirmed nor denied the accusation.
The frustration expressed by residents of Ako Tapi is emblematic of the larger challenges facing many Nigerian communities in their dealings with electricity distribution companies. Across the country, reports of unofficial charges, delayed responses to faults, and community-funded repairs are common, raising concerns about the effectiveness and accountability of the electricity distribution system.
Mr. Ogbende emphasized that while the residents understand that infrastructure occasionally requires maintenance, the frequency of these incidents and the demand for payment each time is what they find unacceptable. “We are not saying we shouldn’t contribute, but it’s becoming too much. Why is it always us? Something is not right,” he added.
Other residents echoed these sentiments, calling on relevant authorities to investigate the situation and ensure that AEDC and other distribution companies are held accountable for their services. They expressed hope that the government would intervene to establish clear guidelines on the responsibilities of electricity distribution companies and prevent further exploitation.
One resident, Mrs. Joy Agada, shared her frustration: “We pay our bills regularly, yet we are asked to contribute when there’s a problem. What exactly are we paying AEDC for? If the government doesn’t step in, this will continue, and we’ll keep suffering.”
The residents of Ako Tapi are not alone in their call for intervention. Consumer rights activists have long urged the government to improve oversight of electricity distribution companies and protect citizens from exploitative practices. With Nigeria’s power sector already plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and infrastructural deficits, the need for reform is becoming more urgent.
Experts suggest that the government should establish a regulatory framework that ensures transparency in the repair and maintenance processes for electrical infrastructure. In addition, clear communication channels should be opened between electricity distribution companies and consumers to prevent misunderstandings and resolve disputes amicably.
In the meantime, the residents of Ako Tapi remain in the dark—both literally and figuratively—as they wait for their transformer to be repaired and for the government to step in and address their grievances.
The situation in Ako Tapi reflects the frustrations of many Nigerian communities that bear the burden of paying for services that should be provided by electricity distribution companies. As the allegations of extortion continue to swirl, the residents of Ako Tapi remain hopeful that the government will take action to protect them from further exploitation and ensure fair and transparent practices by AEDC officials.
Until then, the question remains: How long will communities like Ako Tapi have to pay the price for unreliable electricity services?
