Musa Na-Allah, Sokoto
Kaduna Electric (KEDCO) has moved into crisis management mode in Sokoto following rising public outrage over worsening electricity supply, inflated billing, and persistent load shedding.
In a bid to calm mounting tensions and restore public confidence, the newly appointed Regional Manager of KEDCO in Sokoto, Salisu Shanono Malami, on Friday paid a strategic visit to the Sokoto State Police Command.
The visit aimed to strengthen security collaboration amid increasing hostility from electricity consumers frustrated by erratic power supply.
Communities such as Arkilla, Mabera, Runjin Sambo, Dambuwa, Offa Road, and Old Airport have in recent weeks staged protests over prolonged outages and arbitrary billing.
These demonstrations have spilled onto the streets and social media, with reports of verbal and physical confrontations involving KEDCO field staff.
Malami acknowledged the growing public anger, admitting that consumer complaints over poor service delivery were “genuine and deeply felt.”
He said that while efforts were underway to address technical challenges, securing power installations and protecting staff had become urgent priorities due to rising threats and vandalism.
He appealed to the police for sustained support during maintenance operations, disconnection exercises, and customer engagement campaigns, promising “a new era of transparency, open communication, and gradual improvement in power supply.”
In response, Commissioner of Police Ahmed Musa praised KEDCO for engaging security agencies at a critical moment, warning that the situation could escalate if not properly managed.
He assured that the police would intensify protection of KEDCO personnel and infrastructure, but appealed to residents to remain calm and law-abiding, stressing that vandalism and violence would only worsen power challenges.
Both parties agreed to establish a rapid response communication channel to quickly address threats, sabotage, or mob actions linked to electricity disputes.
As Sokoto residents continue to endure frequent blackouts and soaring bills, this new partnership between KEDCO and the Police Command may prove pivotal in stabilizing operations and rebuilding public trust—though many consumers say they want “electricity, not promises.”
