FCT Abuja Communities Remain In Darkness For 11 Years Over Abandoned Electrification Project
The affected communities, Gaba, Igu, Shere, and Kawu, have suffered years of neglect, with electrical poles planted, transformers installed, and 33KV cables connected, yet no electricity has been supplied.
Eleven years after the launch of a rural electrification project aimed at providing power to at least four communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, residents remain in total darkness, as the initiative has been abandoned despite millions of naira already being spent.
The affected communities, Gaba, Igu, Shere, and Kawu, have suffered years of neglect, with electrical poles planted, transformers installed, and 33KV cables connected, yet no electricity has been supplied.
Residents have accused the government of starting the project in 2013 only to abandon it midway, leaving them without power for over a decade.
A civic technology platform, MonITNG, raised the alarm on X (formerly Twitter), calling on relevant authorities to intervene in what has become a symbol of failed governance and disregard for rural communities.
The platform wrote: “We visited Gaba, Igu, Shere, and Kawu, where a rural electrification project started in 2013 remains abandoned. Concrete poles were planted, transformers installed, and 33KV cables connected, yet these communities have been left in total darkness for 11 years due to government neglect.
“Over time, harsh weather and vandals have worsened the situation. Strong winds knocked down poles, and criminals looted electrical wires and iron rods, stripping away any hope of completion. What was meant to bring progress and development has become a painful symbol of abandonment.”
Despite multiple letters sent by the communities to the relevant authorities, including the FCT Administration and the Power Ministry, no action has been taken to complete the project.
The situation has left the communities stranded, crippling businesses, affecting education, and making healthcare services unreliable.
Without power, residents say they are unable to store perishable goods, power essential equipment, or even engage in productive economic activities.
MonITNG further called on the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to intervene urgently and ensure the project’s completion.
“We call on the Minister of Power @BayoAdelabu to urgently intervene to revive and complete this project.
“The people of these villages cannot remain in darkness any longer. It’s time to fulfill promises, take action, and bring light to the forgotten.”
The abandonment of electrification projects has become a recurring problem in Nigeria, where government contracts are awarded and then left incomplete, often due to corruption, mismanagement, or a lack of political will.
Residents of the affected FCT communities have vowed to continue mounting pressure on the government until their right to electricity is restored.
ATTENTION!!!
Dear @GovWike & Sen @IretiKingibe
We visited Gaba, Igu, Shere, and Kawu, where a rural electrification project started in 2013 remains abandoned. Concrete poles were planted, transformers installed, and 33KV cables connected, yet these communities have been left… pic.twitter.com/ODPtNXm6yQ
— MonITNG (@monitng) March 23, 2025
