Electricity consumers in several parts of Sokoto State are mobilising for a massive protest over what they described as persistent poor electricity supply and unfair billing by the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO).
The aggrieved residents said they have endured months of irregular power supply while still receiving estimated bills, a situation they insist is unacceptable.
The consumers, who held separate meetings in Danbuwa, Tamaje, Old Airport, Sabaru, Mabera and Kwanawa, expressed frustration and anger over what they termed deliberate poor treatment.
According to them, while some areas in Sokoto reportedly enjoy between 10 and 15 hours of electricity daily, their communities struggle to receive up to two hours of supply in an entire week, yet they are still billed for power they never received.
Speaking ahead of the planned joint protest, Malam Ibrahim from Danbuwa, alongside Kabiru of Old Airport and Magori, representing aggrieved Mabera customers, disclosed that protest notification letters had already been sent to relevant authorities to ensure a peaceful demonstration.
“We have send letters to the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), The Nigeria Police Force, the NSCDC, the Department of State Security, KAEDCO and the Sokoto State Government on the planned protest,” he said.
He added that the protest aims to draw national attention to the situation and compel the electricity provider to address their concerns.
“This protest is to tell KAEDCO that enough is enough. And the protest might likely resonate in other parts of Nigeria. It is simply to tell the world that we cannot continue to tolerate the inhumane treatment again.
“For us, it is either they migrate us to a band that will give us stable power supply or stop giving us bills for darkness. We will not pay any of such bills henceforth. And their staff should not try our patience with their disconnection drive. We will ensure that, they get the desired treatment if they come around”.
Although the exact date for the protest was not disclosed, the aggrieved consumers maintained that the schedule had already been communicated in their letters to relevant authorities, signalling their readiness to proceed with the planned action.