Aso Rock Now Depends on Generators As Nigeria’s Electricity Woes Bites Harder

Nigerian households and businesses have been hard hit by a double whammy of a lingering fuel crisis and worsening power outage

Economic activities have being crippled across vital sectors in the country as the leaders keep mum over the situation

In Abuja, private and public offices, including government buildings have resorted to spending huge funds on alternative power sources, especially generators

This comes at a time President Muhammadu Buhari is vacating in London for a medical check-up.

A presidency source quoted in the report said the State House Conference Centre had been running on diesel-powered generators in recent times.

According to the source, the power system is run by Julius Berger staff, which also supplies diesel fuel for the generator.

When contacted, Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, said: “The minister just briefed you last week. I have nothing new to tell you for now; no, nothing.”

Several ministries at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja were also in partial or total blackout. Civil servants, who were seen idle in their offices, said they could not execute their tasks due to the power outage, and that activities had generally slowed down.

A staff member, who, at about 1 pm, had already closed for the day and was on her way home, said: “We can’t do anything. We can’t make payments, make orders, or any transaction.”

Another staff member said: “The light situation is a complete mess. No light at home, no light at work. Last week, there was no light from Monday to Friday at the service; currently, there is no light. Whenever they decide to bring the light, it’s usually very late, when workers have already closed.”