Thousands of residents, businesses, diplomatic missions and government institutions in Maitama and surrounding areas of Abuja were thrown into darkness on Friday after alleged land grabbers invaded the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company’s C2 Maitama Substation.
In a public notice, AEDC said it was “presently unable to supply electricity” from the critical facility following what it described as an “unlawful encroachment” led by Mr. Chinedu Okoro, an Assistant Director of the Federal Capital Development Authority.
![](https://www.theconclaveng.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Hartland.png")
—How the outage happened—
According to AEDC, the invasion caused extensive damage to vital electricity cables and other network infrastructure at the substation.
The company said the damage made it “unsafe and technically impossible” to continue power supply from the facility, forcing a shutdown.
The C2 Maitama Substation is a key distribution point that feeds homes, businesses, diplomatic missions and federal government institutions in one of Abuja’s most strategic districts.
—AEDC petitions authorities—
AEDC said it has formally petitioned relevant authorities over the incident, stressing that the substation and its land “duly belongs to AEDC.”
The company called for a “thorough investigation and appropriate action in accordance with the law.”
“We strongly condemn any encroachment on critical national infrastructure, as such actions deprive communities of essential electricity supply, disrupt economic activities and compromise public interest,” the notice stated.
—When will power return?—
AEDC apologised for the inconvenience and assured customers that restoration efforts will commence once the substation is secured and damaged infrastructure is rebuilt*.
The company urged residents to bear with it as it works with security agencies and government authorities to resolve the situation.
The outage comes amid growing concerns over attacks on power infrastructure across the country, with regulators warning that vandalism and encroachment are major threats to grid stability.
