Adamawa youths shut down YEDC operations over epileptic power
By Umar Dankano, Yola
Activities at the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) has been paralyzed for hours on Monday as members of the Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria (MOTION) barricaded the company’s headquarters in protest against what they described as persistent and worsening electricity supply across Adamawa State.
When this reporter visited the YEDC premises as early as 7 a.m., scores of disgruntled members of the group were seen blocking all entry points, holding placards with various inscriptions condemning the erratic power situation. The peaceful demonstration effectively halted operations at the facility.
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Speaking during the protest, the State Contact Person of the group, Comrade Musa Andrew, said MOTION mobilised its members to express deep dissatisfaction with the continued failure of YEDC to provide reliable electricity to households and businesses in the state.
He explained that the group had made several attempts—through letters, formal complaints, and other engagements—to draw the attention of the company’s management to the deteriorating situation but received no meaningful response.
“We wrote YEDC on the 27th of November complaining about the poor services. We also copied the Police, DSS, Public Complaints Commission, and the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, yet we have not received any reply,” he lamented.
Comrade Andrew disclosed that the group had interacted with residents across Jambutu, Numan, Demsa, Yola South, and Yola North Local Government Areas, all of whom shared similar experiences of prolonged blackouts and irregular supply.
“Where I live, we are classified under Band B, which is supposed to enjoy between 8 to 12 hours of electricity daily. Unfortunately, we barely get two hours in very short intervals of about 30 minutes.
“There is practically no light in Adamawa. Only a few areas on Band A receive somewhat consistent power. If YEDC cannot deliver on its mandate, then the Federal Government should revoke its licence immediately,” he said.
Other residents who joined the protest, including Ladi Demsa and Doris Elem, appealed to the distribution company to improve its services, stressing that the erratic supply had crippled their small businesses and increased operational costs.
Efforts to obtain the company’s reaction were unsuccessful, as calls placed to the YEDC Communications Officer, Mrs. Blessing Tunoh, were neither answered nor returned at the time of filing this report.
