Blackout Hits Abuja as AEDC Announces 3-Day Power Cut Over Tower Relocation

By Okechukwu Eze, Abuja

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced a planned three-day power outage in parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to allow for the relocation of 33kV towers at Kukwaba.

In a public notice issued to that effect, the DisCo said the exercise will be carried out by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) as part of ongoing road construction works in the nation’s capital.

According to AEDC, residents in the affected areas will experience a total blackout today, while electricity supply will be rationed through load shedding on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25.

Over 40 communities and housing estates are expected to be hit, including Durumi, American International School, National Stadium, Airport Road, Lugbe FHA, Kapuwa Village, Kuchingoro, Karimajini, Zhidu Village, Peace Village, Sun City Estate, Urban Shelter, Brains and Hammer, Aco Estate, Sabon Lugbe, Voice of Nigeria, and Aleita, among others.

The company appealed to customers for understanding, noting that the relocation is necessary to pave way for critical infrastructure development in the Kukwaba corridor.

Meanwhile, data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) shows that Nigeria’s 11 Distribution Companies collectively remitted N385.44 billion in Q2 2026.

NERC said the DisCos were invoiced N410.38 billion for upstream market obligations, comprising N326.46 billion for generation costs payable to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) and N83.92 billion for transmission and administrative services to the Market Operator. The companies remitted N306.62 billion to NBET and N78.82 billion to the MO, leaving a shortfall of N24.94 billion and achieving a 93.92% remittance rate.

The report also revealed that the Federal Government incurred N321.26 billion in electricity subsidies during the quarter to bridge the gap between cost-reflective tariffs and what consumers were billed, underscoring the continuing liquidity crisis in the power sector despite improved remittances by the DisCos.