Gwarinpa Residents, Businesses Hit with Multi-Million Naira Light Bills — Massive Disconnections Follow

Chaos and outrage have erupted in Gwarinpa, Abuja’s largest residential estate, as both residential and commercial property owners face mass electricity disconnections following the issuance of multi-million Naira power bills by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company.

The bills, which have reportedly been accumulated over several years, have come as a shock to many residents who claim they were unaware of the mounting charges.

Several streets, including popular commercial hubs like 1st Avenue, 5th Avenue, and Galadima Extension, have experienced blackouts since the disconnection exercise began earlier this week.

“We just woke up to see AEDC officials disconnecting whole buildings,” said Mr. Henry Okoye, a shop owner whose electronics business has now come to a standstill.

“They said we owe ₦1.7 million. How? We don’t even use industrial machines!”

Residents of Gwarinpa Estate have described the billing as both “outrageous” and “ambiguous,” claiming that the charges do not reflect their actual consumption.

Several tenants say they have been paying estimated bills for years without receiving any reconciliation or clear breakdown of charges.

Mrs. Aisha Musa, a mother of three, lamented that their building was served a disconnection notice for a ₦3.2 million debt.

“How can a four-flat residential building owe that much? We’ve been paying what they give us every month. They just let it pile up and then punished all of us,” she said.

The distribution company, however, insists that the move is part of a broader crackdown on defaulters.

According to a source within the company who spoke under anonymity, “Many buildings have refused to settle accumulated bills despite repeated reminders. What we are doing is enforcing compliance, no more leniency.”

Small businesses are bearing the brunt. Barbershops, cybercafés, pharmacies, and local eateries have all had to scale down operations or shut entirely due to the power cut.

The Gwarinpa Market Association has called for an emergency town hall meeting with AEDC officials to address what they call “a crisis of economic survival.”

Meanwhile, the disconnection exercise continues across the district, with more properties expected to go dark in the coming days.

Residents are calling for the Federal Government’s intervention and demanding an independent audit of the bills. “We’re not refusing to pay,” said Tolu Ajibade, a caretaker.

“We just want clarity. Don’t send bills from five years ago and expect us to pay it overnight.”

Tensions are rising and some parts of the estate has been plunged further into darkness, one thing is clear, Gwarinpa’s lights may not come back on until both sides take responsibility for their actions.