By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna A dispute over electricity meter replacement has left Millennium City in Kaduna State in total dar...
By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
A dispute over electricity meter replacement has left Millennium City in Kaduna State in total darkness since Saturday, after Kaduna Electric disconnected supply to the entire estate despite a court case on the matter still pending.
The Ministerial Plot Housing Estate Residents Association, MPHERA, said the blackout is putting more than 500 residents at risk, disrupting hospital operations, and raising security concerns across the community.
In a press release issued in Kaduna, MPHERA Chairman, Shafik Muazu Shira, said the residents’ position is not against electricity supply or proper metering. According to him, the disagreement is about how Kaduna Electric plans to carry out a blanket replacement of existing meters.
Shira stated that residents have established an Electricity Committee to help ensure the integrity of electricity supply in Millennium City, while protecting the interests of both consumers and Kaduna Electric, and to support a peaceful resolution.
He urged Kaduna Electric to allow the judicial process to run its course, stressing that steps that could further complicate the dispute should be avoided while the matter remains before the court.
The association described the decision to disconnect the entire community over objections to the proposed metering exercise as excessive, and called for urgent regulatory attention.
Shira also expressed concern about the company’s proposal to install electricity meters on poles. He insisted that any such installation must comply with relevant regulations and technical standards prescribed by NERC and NEMSA.
He noted that NEMSA had previously conducted an independent technical verification of meters within the affected estates and identified some meters that required replacement or further action. He therefore called on Kaduna Electric to adhere strictly to NEMSA’s recommendations and to engage residents before implementing any approved meter replacement.
Shira recalled that for almost a decade, residents and community structures in Millennium City have cooperated with Kaduna Electric and provided support and infrastructure that facilitated electricity distribution across the communities. He urged the electricity company to return to the negotiating table and pursue a mutually acceptable resolution rather than disconnecting the entire community.
Residents said the prolonged blackout is already creating serious security concerns, particularly at night, warning that the absence of electricity could expose residents and their property to criminal activities.
They further said the affected area accommodates hospitals and patients, while more than 500 people are being adversely affected by the prolonged power outage.
The residents appealed to Governor Uba Sani to urgently intervene and prevail on Kaduna Electric to restore electricity supply pending the determination of the court case and the conclusion of relevant regulatory processes.
They also called on NERC and NEMSA to urgently investigate the circumstances surrounding the disconnection and ensure that the rights and interests of electricity consumers are protected.
The residents reiterated their willingness to engage Kaduna Electric and the Kaduna State Government in meaningful dialogue, stressing that their demand is for a peaceful, lawful and mutually acceptable resolution of the dispute.
They urged all parties to exercise restraint, respect the ongoing judicial process and prioritize the security and wellbeing of residents, businesses and essential facilities in Millennium City.
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