By Charles Ebi
A widespread electricity blackout has hit Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, leaving several key areas, including the Presidential Villa, in darkness.
The disruption, according to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company ,AEDC, was caused by faults in several feeders supplying power to parts of the city.
The seat of power, the Presidential Villa, was affected due to a fault at the R4 Injection substation located near the Three Arms Zone on Aso Drive.
In addition to the Villa, several estates and communities, including suburban areas like Lugbe and Kubwa, have been without electricity for days.
AEDC in a statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, listed affected areas as CKC Gwagwalada, Kuje Road, Almat Farms, Kiran Farm, Efugo, Kwali Road, L5 Injection Substation, Chukuku Environs, Premium Farm, El-Rufai Estate, and Daghiri.
Other areas hit by the blackout include Kuje Extension, John Calvin Estate, Kings Court, Karmo District, Idu Industrial, Urban Shelter Katampe, Living Faith Church Katampe, Jahi Village, Katampe Extension, Jahi by Gilmore, Gishiri, Mabushi, Kadokuchi, Navy Estate, and Anan House.
The blackout has also affected several other locations such as NAF Conference, Lake View Phase 1 & 2, Custom Quarter, Chida Hotel, Dakibiu, Brains and Hammers City Estate, Today Estate, Dape District, Katsina Estate, Paradise Estate, Ochacho Estate, Kafe District, American Embassy Estate, and parts of Gwarinpa, including Zones C, D, and E.
Additionally, parts of the city served by the Dantata and R3 Injection Substations, along with sectors around Lugbe FHA 1, FHA 2, Tudunwada, and Naff Valley Estate, are also experiencing outages.
Also, critical institutions, including hotels, schools, and hospitals, have been left in darkness, causing widespread disruption.
AEDC, however, urged affected customers to remain patient as engineers are working tirelessly to restore electricity