Ososo, Nigeria – Residents of Ososo community in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State are voicing their frustration over the persistent poor electricity supply and high bills that have become a significant challenge to daily life.
The community experiences frequent power outages lasting weeks or even months, disrupting businesses, schools, and households.
The erratic power supply has forced many residents to rely on alternative sources like generators, increasing their expenses. Food spoilage and damage to electrical appliances are common occurrences due to the frequent outages.
Despite the poor service, electricity bills are excessively high, with some residents paying up to N15,000 per compound, which doesn’t reflect their actual electricity consumption while in darkness.
This financial burden strains household budgets, affecting the standard of living. The billing system is perceived as opaque and unfair, with many questioning the accuracy of their bills. Residents are calling for urgent intervention from the government and Electricity Distribution Companies to provide fair billing systems and stable power supply.
Similar challenges are faced by residents in other parts of Nigeria. In Osogbo, Osun State, residents have lamented the drop in electricity supply, while in Offa, Kwara State, residents have expressed frustration over the poor power supply and vandalism of transformers.
The power crisis in Nigeria has far-reaching implications, affecting businesses, schools, and households. Experts recommend that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) strictly enforce service reliability mandates and ensure minimum infrastructure investment requirements for distribution companies before approving future tariff increases.
Residents are urging the government and Electricity Distribution Companies to address these issues, providing stable power supply and fair billing systems to improve their lives.
