Bauchi Community Staged a Peaceful Protest over JEDC
By Muhammad Babayo ASHA
Residents of Yakubun Bauchi adjacent Dorawan Dillalai behind old Airport Bauchi have expressed anger over inability of the state government to provide transformers that will address electricity problem in the area.
Dozens of them gathered where the transformer is stationed to register their grievance for staying in darkness for about three months despite being in the state capital and under government house electricity feeder.
Speaking on behalf of the people of the area Usman Umar Lamido said people of the area have been suffering from what he described as neglect in terms of provision of infrastructure and other social amenities.
“… the problem of the area is not only on the power failure, when it rains also one has to wait for about an hour because of the flooding in all the place.. Lamido said”
Usman Umar Lamido who is also a staff of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi said people of the area which most of them are civil servants and businessmen pay tax as and when due wondered why the neglect.
He said the only transformer that serves people suffers constant damage and replacement due to over pupolation stressing that the only solution is to provide more to meet demand of the people of the area.
“…. the PA Transformer promised to us that the transformer will be brought back to us by Saturday …. NEPA personnel have confirmed to us that the present transformer has been blown off … Lamido stressed”.
According to him the state Governor, Secretary to the State Government SSG, Commissioner of Power know about their plight and wondered why the problem of the power in the area could not be surmounted once and for all.
Responding the Personal Assistant to Governor Bala Muhammad on transformer Musa Zango who enjoined people of the area to exercise more patience said efforts are being intensified to repair the damaged transformer with a view to address the power problem.
“… we’ll come with another transformer apartment from the present one for onward fixing at another location to address the power problem in the area…. Zango said”
Musa Zango said some unpatriotic citizens in the area are found sourcing power from two different transformers which led to the constant damaged after their repairs.
He said a tripartite committee has been constituted to identify such households for their onward disconnections before the transformer is brought back to avert further damage.
Radio Nigeria observed that dualization project of the road that links the area with Zango which commenced during the first tenure of the present administration has been suspended as no personnel of the Construction Firm is seen on the site for quite some time.
