By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
A joint meeting between the management of Kogi Electricity Distribution Limited (KEDL) and members of the Lokoja Light Up Movement turned chaotic on Monday following heated exchanges over the persistent blackout in Lokoja.
The meeting, convened as a follow-up engagement to earlier complaints by residents, reportedly degenerated into a physical confrontation as tempers flared over the prolonged outage on Feeder 3 and the general epileptic electricity supply across the town.
Sources disclosed that members of the movement insisted on the immediate energising of Feeder 3, rejecting what they described as repeated excuses of technical faults by the electricity distribution company.
Considering the present situation of low power generation in the country and pending improvement from the national grid, stakeholders at the meeting acknowledged the broader challenges within the electricity sector but stressed that equitable distribution of available supply must be prioritised.
It was agreed during deliberations that KEDL would ensure that all 11KV feeders receive reasonable hours of electricity supply rather than allowing only the 33KVA feeders to enjoy near 24-hour power at the expense of other areas.
The group said it has given the company three days to demonstrate noticeable improvement in power supply across Lokoja, including the clearing of local faults affecting several neighbourhoods.
In addition, the movement reiterated its earlier concerns over what it described as discriminatory distribution patterns, calling for a balanced and transparent allocation framework to ensure fairness to all categories of consumers.
However, the activists also confirmed and applauded ongoing efforts by the company to expand and improve the network infrastructure, particularly the erection of new electricity poles along the Zango axis to the Transmission Station, describing it as a positive step toward long-term stability.
Despite the tense atmosphere and brief confrontation, KEDL management reportedly assured stakeholders that technical teams were working round the clock to address the concerns raised and improve supply within the stipulated timeframe.
Leaders of the Lokoja Light Up Movement maintained that they would closely monitor developments and hold the company accountable to its commitments, warning that failure to see tangible improvement within three days could trigger mass protest action in the state capital.
More details later.
