Plateau youths protest 11-year blackout, demands JEDC’s accountability

Daniel Dauda, Jos Some concerned Irigwe youths have protested an 11-year-long power outage in Miango town, Irigwe Chiefdom of Bassa Local Government, Plateau State, over what they described as “self-inflicted injury”, demanding for transparency and accountability to end the blackout. The youths revealed that initially, before the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) meeting in Abuja...

News Sep 2, 2026 0 4 Add to Reading List

Plateau youths protest 11-year blackout, demands JEDC’s accountability

Daniel Dauda, Jos

Some concerned Irigwe youths have protested an 11-year-long power outage in Miango town, Irigwe Chiefdom of Bassa Local Government, Plateau State, over what they described as “self-inflicted injury”, demanding for transparency and accountability to end the blackout.

The youths revealed that initially, before the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) meeting in Abuja in December 2016, the registered customer population in Miango was 682. “Outstanding post privatisation debt at the time was N51,418,095.27 only. After reconciliation, the post privatisation debt as at June 2017 was N38,000,000.00.”

The spokesman of the group, Bitrus Adamu Izhi made the revelation on Tuesday while addressing newsmen at the NUJ Secretariat in Jos.

Izhi confirmed this followed an intervention by the NERC.Thus, N51.418 million was reduced to N38 million only by Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC).

“The N38 million was to be migrated and shared amongst metered individual customers in Miango community as directed by NERC in their memo of December 14, 2017.

“Of this 38 million Naira, the consumers have remitted 28 million and are left with a balance of 10 million Naira”, Izhi stated.

He also disclosed that further effort to settle this debt saw the District Head of Miango, His Highness Mr. Daniel Chega, constituted a committee with a mandate to galvanize the people towards avenues through which the money could be paid.

He alleged that however, as soon as the committee commenced function, it went outside its mandate and chose to establish and register a company with the name Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise with one Mr Williams Chatalas as chairman, Mr John Willy Iche- Secretary,Mr Haruna Jibo- Financial Secretary, Pastor Emmanuel Benedict Zamfara- Treasurer.

“This company which was birthed without knowledge or consent of the consumers went ahead to effect an arrangement with JEDC as the sole agent to be mopping up its funds from consumers.

“To achieve this, JEDC then unilaterally without knowledge or consent of the consumers suspended their accounts and registered a single account through which the intermediary company began collecting electricity bills from consumers in Miango.

“Members of the community assumed all funds earlier paid and those raised through donations from concerned illustrious sons of the land were being used to offset the debt.Sadly, this was not so, and JEDC then decided to disconnect the entire town.

“This disconnection has lingered for 11 years and every attempt to seek answers from the committee failed. As at May 2023, the total amount owed JEDC by the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise is 194,912,366,86 Naira”, Izhi explained.

The spokesman acknowledged that the paramount Ruler, H.R.H. Braa Nggwe Rigwe Rev. Ronku Aka rtd, tried to get accountability, alleging that the committee refused, adding that the committee was later dissolved by using veto power.

%he youths appealed for Governor Caleb Mutfwang to intervene, recalling his 2025 Irigwe Cultural Day promise to bring back power to Miango.

The concerned youths advocated the need to set up an investigative committee to audit the company and compel it to open its books. Prosecute if culpable.

“Ascertain JEDC’s role in hoisting the company on the people, and where guilt is found, EFCC, ICPC, and Police should arrest those who betrayed public trust.

“Stop the company from transacting with JEDC on behalf of Miango consumers. JEDC should restore all suspended individual accounts and stop dealing with the company on Miango billing”, the youths demanded.

They thanked Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and poverty reduction, Bernard Doro and other Rigwe stakeholders. They also warned prominent silent personalities that “their actions and inactions will be remembered.”

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