By Naomi Okoh & Comfort Agbaji
Vandalisation of transformers in Makurdi has put a number of areas in the state capital in darkness and crippled small scale businesses.
The Voice investigation revealed that in recent times, vandals have continued to render many transformers useless by stealing vital components in the dead of night, thereby throwing the affected areas into darkness.
A welder in Wadata, Mr Emmanuel Audu, complained that he no longer makes enough income in his welding business. “Now that schools have resumed, I need light to work so I can pay my children school fees,” he lamented.
At Agber village, the youths recently took to the streets, protesting the continued blackout occasioned by vandalism of cables from a transformer that supplies light to the community.
Speaking with the leader of the youths who simply gave his name as Usha, he said: “We closed the gate of JED office to customers so that they can answer us. We have been in darkness for over two months now and we have not seen any effort from JED to restore our light. We beg them to restore light for us immediately.”
A bakery owner, Mrs Mwuese Chia on Jerome Hwande Street, also complained of her inability to produce bread without public power supply from JED. She expressed her inability to buy diesel all the time to power her generator adding that “there is no profit in the business I plead with JED to restore light.”
It will be recalled that some communities in Makurdi like Wadata, Naka Road, Gboko Road, behind the Makurdi Modem Market, Achusa had been in darkness due to vandalism and other issues, while in places like behind Teaching Service Board (TSB) who suffered same vandalism, since January, 2021 had their light restored only in April, 2021.
A cross section of persons who did not want their names in print alleged that JED officials were responsible for the rising cases of vandalism considering that they were the ones with the technical know-how on electricity installation, hence, stand a better chance to successfully vandalize the transformers.
They all called on JED to do everything possible to restore light to affected areas as soon as possible, as they were currently going through hardship not enjoying the social amenity and businesses in the area were at a standstill.
All efforts to get the new JED Regional Manager, to comment on the matter proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.