A disturbing trend has emerged in Maigero/Karji Community, where Kaduna Electric authorities and community leaders allegedly collude to extort residents. The company’s refusal to install a donated transformer, coupled with continuous levy collection, has raised suspicions leading to the unbelievable findings.
For 16 months now, Kaduna Electric has REFUSED to install a brand-new transformer donated by Hon. Ekene Adams – God rest his soul – in July 2023. Instead, residents were tasked with raising millions for installation costs, and despite contributing almost ₦3 million as of January 2024, nothing has been done.
Nine months later, no update on the installation has been provided, while the old transformer which most of the time supplies very low voltage that can’t even power a modern Tv set, has been down for over three months, yet levy collection had continued.
There are rumours that Kaduna Electric officials may be unwilling to fix the new transformer, as it would resolve the old transformer’s constant failures and halt their lucrative levy collection or that the company might be waiting for the old transformer (which has been down for over 3 months now) to be completely vandalized, overloading the new one when it is finally installed, and ensuring continued levy payments each time it expectedly breaks down.
The Kaduna Electric management must explain why they haven’t installed the donated transformer despite residents’ contributions while calling on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to investigate these allegations and take action.
As customers, we have the right to transparent electricity billing, proper information, and education on electricity services, among other rights in the company’s service guidelines.
No one should suffer in silence. You should, therefore, expose similar experiences in your area, let them go viral, and demand accountability from Kaduna Electric until the NERC and other regulatory authorities hear and take action. Enough is enough! Zaluncin ya isa haka!
~Edward John Auta is a public affairs commentator and writes from Karji, Chikun LGA of Kaduna State.
Email: autaedward@gmail.com
