By Adeola Akinbobola
Some residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to intensify public enlightenment on the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) refund scheme.
The residents from Kubwa, Gwarinpa, Asokoro and Dutse spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Mrs Joy Ajayi, a resident in Gwarinpa, urged the company to enlighten the public on the MAP refund scheme through radio jingles and other traditional media platforms.
She said relying mainly on the company’s official X handle to communicate information about the refund was inadequate, particularly for electricity consumers who do not use social media.
Another resident in Dutse, Mr Effiong Daniel, urged AEDC to take its public awareness campaign to radio stations across the FCT.
He said radio remained one of the most accessible means of reaching residents in communities, including those with limited access to the internet.
According to him, many electricity consumers may be unaware of their eligibility for MAP refunds and the procedures to access the refund.
Mrs Shotayo Aliyu, a resident in Asokoro, said AEDC should produce simple and easy-to-understand radio jingles in English and major local languages spoken in the FCT.
“Traders in the market, cattle rearers and farmers all have access to the radio. The message can easily get to them through the radio jingles,” she said.
A resident of Asokoro, Mr Adamu Yusuf, called for wider community sensitisation through town-hall meetings, market associations and community leaders to reach electricity consumers directly.
Yusuf said the public enlightenment would help reduce misinformation and enable customers to understand their rights under the MAP refund arrangement.
He urged AEDC to provide clear information on who qualifies for refunds, the refund process, and the channels customers could use to lodge complaints or follow up on their claims.
“Social media platforms such as X, Instagram and Facebook are useful for communication, but they should not replace the traditional channels of public enlightenment.
“Most of us do not have Android phones, let alone access to social media to benefit from the MAP refund scheme,” he said.
Mr Abel Abubakar, a resident of Kubwa, called on AEDC to make the refund process as transparent and accessible as possible.
He said effective communication would build greater confidence between the company and its customers.
Mr Omede Odekina, Head, Brand Marketing and Corporate Communications of AEDC, told NAN that the company had deployed multiple communication channels, including radio, television and print for customer engagement.
Odekina said radio remained an important part of AEDC’s communication strategy for reaching customers who may not be active on digital platforms.
“We appreciate the feedback from our customers and we will intensify public enlightenment through radio and other media platforms to ensure that information reaches a wider audience,” he said. (NAN)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
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