FCT Blackout: Abuja residents left powerless amid AEDC glitch

A widespread power outage has affected several parts of Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, as the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) blames the disruption on a technical fault.

In a public notice issued on Friday evening, the distribution company confirmed that many neighborhoods across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are currently without electricity due to a technical fault on one of its feeders. AEDC stated that its technical team is working to identify and resolve the issue but did not provide a timeline for restoration.

“We regret the inconvenience caused by the current power outage in parts of Abuja,” the statement read. “Our technical team is working diligently to identify and resolve the fault. We appreciate the patience of our customers as we work toward full restoration.”

The affected areas include parts of Katampe and Jahi such as Amazon Street, Lephalala Street, Panama Street, Danube Street (partially), Osun Crescent, Rhine Street, Urban Shelter Katampe, Living Faith Church Katampe, Jahi Village, Katampe Extension, and Jahi by Gilmore. Other areas like Galadimawa, including AMSSCO Estate, have also been hit hard, with some residents reporting that they have been without electricity for three consecutive days.

This latest outage comes amid growing frustration among residents and businesses in the FCT, who have faced a series of power disruptions in recent months. Many residents have expressed their dissatisfaction on social media, criticizing what they see as a pattern of neglect and insufficient communication from electricity providers.

Although AEDC frequently attributes these blackouts to technical faults and infrastructure issues, experts say the problems stem from deeper, systemic challenges.

Chronic underinvestment in power infrastructure, poor maintenance, and inadequate coordination between generation, transmission, and distribution companies have all been cited as contributing factors. Low cost-reflective tariffs and bureaucratic delays also play a role in hampering meaningful progress in the sector.

In March 2025, a similar incident left over 20 areas in Abuja without power. At the time, AEDC issued a comparable apology, prompting public backlash over what many described as empty assurances without lasting solutions.

As of Saturday morning, AEDC has yet to release further updates or give an estimated time for the restoration of electricity to affected neighborhoods. In the meantime, residents continue to rely on alternative power sources such as generators, solar panels, and inverters to meet basic needs.