Over 5,000 youths invade AEDC, Assembly over power outage in Minna

Over 5,000 youths on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest to the regional office of he Abuja Electricity Development Company in Minna, Niger State and the state House of Assembly, warning that any further outage will no longer be acceptable.
Condemning the unavailability of light for several months in Minna, the Niger State capital, the protesters carried various placards.
They had such inscriptions as: “AEDC must go”, “No light in Minna”, “Bring back our light” and “We say no to darkness.
They vowed that if light goes off anymore between now and January 2017, the Abuja Electricity Development Company will also have to leave the state.
Speaking on behalf of the group under the auspices of Concerned Nigerlite Forum, the Convener, Comrade Mohammed Aliyu Mohammed, said: “If AEDC plans to frustrate Nigerlites, then citizens of Niger State have learnt to make things unbearable for them.
“We have told them that we need steady light for 24 hours, prepaid metres must be given to all houses.
“Niger State as the power generating state deserves to have steady light since we have three major dams, otherwise we will continue to advocate and fight for our right.
“For more than two years now, Niger State has been in darkness.
“They have promised that there will be steady power supply till the December ending.”
The protest, which was peaceful, started at about 7am from the popular Mobil Roundabout to the AEDC, then to the State House of Assembly.
It caused gridlock with the protesters wearing black costumes to depict total blackout.
Earlier at the AEDC regional office, the group had made its demand known where they met with the Regional Manager, Engr. Mazi Akubuko Abednego, who assured them that there will be improvement as measures are being taken already.
According to Akubuko: “We understand how you feel, but I can assure you that I will convey your message to the head office and between now and December ending light will improve.”
The Assistant Convener, Dr. Aliyu Mohammed Paiko, while lambasting the power company, said: “AEDC is taking us for granted and enough is enough.
“We cannot be generating electricity for he nation, yet we don’t have light for over two years.
“It is not acceptable and we will no longer tolerate this ill treatment.”
While addressing protesters in front of the state House of Assembly Complex, the Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Marafa, said the darkness and power outage has affected all sectors and that the demands of the protesters will be looked into.
According to Marafa: “It is unimaginable for a state like Niger that houses three hydro power stations to be in want of power supply.
“I met with the leadership of the power company and they promise that there is a change of leadership and measures are being put in place to ensure that power is given for at least eight hours daily.”