Residents accuse DisCo of excessive action amid ongoing court case, warn of security risks and impact on hospitals as they seek intervention from Governor Uba Sani, NERC and NEMSA.

A long-running partnership between residents and Kaduna Electric has hit a rough patch after the DisCo disconnected electricity to the entire Millennium City community on Saturday, an action residents say came in the middle of a court case over meter replacement.

The Ministerial Plot Housing Estate Residents Association, MPHERA, said the outage has left more than 500 people in the dark, affected hospitals and patients, and created fresh security worries in the estate.

In a statement issued to journalists in Kaduna, MPHERA Chairman, Shafik Muazu Shira, clarified that residents are not opposed to electricity supply or proper metering. He said the disagreement is specifically about the manner in which Kaduna Electric wants to carry out a blanket replacement of existing meters.

To manage the situation, Shira said an Electricity Committee had been established to promote the integrity of electricity supply in Millennium City while protecting the interests of consumers and Kaduna Electric.

He urged Kaduna Electric to allow the judicial process to run its course, and to avoid actions capable of further complicating the dispute while the matter remains before the court.

The association described the decision to disconnect the entire community over objections to the disputed metering exercise as excessive, and called for urgent regulatory attention.

Shira also expressed concern over the proposed installation of electricity meters on poles. He insisted that any such installation must comply with relevant regulations and technical standards prescribed by NERC and NEMSA.

According to Shira, 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 the residents before implementing any approved meter replacement.

Shira recalled that residents and community structures in Millennium City had, for almost a decade, 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.

The 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.