Residents Raise Alarm Over Prolonged Power Outage In TSTC, Gullum

Residents of TSTC 2 to Gullum in Jalingo, Taraba State, have expressed growing concerns over the prolonged power outage in their community, which has lasted for two weeks due to a faulty transformer. 

In an open letter to the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC), the residents voiced their dissatisfaction and highlighted the severe challenges the outage has caused, including rising security threats and disruptions to daily life.

They said despite multiple complaints to the YEDC, the community claims no significant action has been taken to resolve the issue, leaving them in a state of growing frustration.

The letter, signed by Hikon Atoshi on behalf of the residents, lists the major concerns caused by the lack of electricity said the extended blackout has led to a rise in criminal activities, with theft and vandalism becoming more frequent. "Residents report feeling unsafe, especially at night, due to the absence of street lighting and other security measures that rely on electricity."

He lamented that without electricity, businesses and households are struggling to function, leading to significant financial losses. Residents have also pointed out how the lack of power affects their daily routines, including cooking, working, and studying.

"The power outage has also impacted the community's health, as refrigerators cannot function, threatening food preservation. In addition, individual dependent on medical devices or equipment are now facing difficulties."

In the letter, the residents demanded that YEDC take immediate steps to repair or replace the faulty transformer and restore electricity to the area. They also called for improved communication and quicker response times to future emergencies, as well as the deployment of temporary power solutions until the main transformer is fixed.

The community urged YEDC to treat the complaint with the seriousness it deserves, emphasizing that if the issue is not resolved promptly, they will be forced to escalate the matter to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and other relevant authorities.