The Niger House of Assembly has threatened to shut down the three hydro-electric power dams located in the state, if the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) failed to improve power supply to residents.
The assembly also issued a 21-day ultimatum to AEDC to supply 24-hours power to residents of the state, and to also provide customers with prepaid meters.
Mr Malik Bosso, Chairman, Niger House Committee on Labour and Productivity, said this in an interview with newsmen after a critical stakeholders meeting at the House of Assembly Complex in Minna on Thursday.
Bosso said that in spite of being the host of three hydro electric dams, the state had continued to suffer poor power supply which had resulted to collapse of businesses and loss of jobs.
“Niger which hosts three hydro-electric dams is supposed to enjoy uninterrupted electricity supply, but the reverse is the case, the state has been left in total darkness.
“We are giving AEDC 21 days to supply 24 hours light to the state and if they failed to do that, we will mobilise our people to shut down the dams so that everyone in the country will feel what we are experiencing, ” he said.
He noted that as a profit oriented company, the AEDC has no tenable reason for not ensuring regular power supply to residents of the state, adding that the three dams were generating adequate energy to serve the state.
Stakeholders such as the Trade Union Congress (TUC) National Youth Council in the state, Association of Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators of Nigeria, Religious and Traditional Leaders and CSOs all attended the meeting.
