Electricity problem hinders business growth in FCT
Erratic power has been described as a major hiccup to growth of electricity related businesses in the FCT.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) investigation at Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kwali and Kuje Area Councils
of FCT showed that most of the users have resorted to generating sets for power supply.
Mr Ben Nweze, a welder in Abaji told NAN that the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) fondly brought light at about 12 midnight and only for it to go off at 6 a.m. each day.
Nweze said the epileptic power supply forced him to be working at night, except when he resorted to the generating set.
He complained that when PHCN would distribute bills at the end of the month, power supply would be normal until after the collection.
Messrs Wasiu Salman and Stanley Ukwoke, welder and electronics repairer in Kwali, respectively also said that they hardly enjoyed two hours of power supply in a day.
According to them, the quality of the supply was extremely low that could not carry their appliances.
A welder in Kuje, Abubakar Danjuma, said he burnt about 20 litres of diesel on some jobs, making him to record losses on his business.
Almost all business centres in the area councils were seen using generating sets, forcing them to charge N10 instead of N5 per page of a photocopy.
The Gwagwalada District Business Manager of PHCN, Mr Aminu Bello, an engineer by profession, said the supply of electricity in the area was based on what was allocated to the unit from the sub-station.
Aminu said the quantity of the supply usually fluctuated regularly and that there were other technical problems
that affected the distribution in the area.
He said the unit was carved out from the Garki District to bring services closer to people and to cover about 600 kilometres radius.
The area of coverage, he said, included Abuja City gate, Abuja Airport and the villages on the airport road as well as the four area councils and parts neighbouring states.
According to him, proposals were underway to construct a 33 KV line from Suleja to Gwagwalada and that government planned to construct a 330
KV line from Ajaokuta to Gwagwalada.
He added that the FCTA also planned to erect a double circuit tower at the airport, aimed at reducing the problem.