Residents of Egbu Community in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State have expressed their frustration over the lack of electricity in their area.
Despite hosting a power station run by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the community has been in darkness for over a month, prompting plans for protests against the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).
Speaking to journalists in Owerri, some of the indigenes expressed their outrage, citing the negative impact of the constant power outage on local businesses and daily life in the area.
Ernest Nkemdirim, an indigene of the area condemned the situation.
“In some parts in Owerri, they get up to 10-12 hours of power supply, but here in Egbu, the host community of the transmission station, we are always in total darkness.
“Power supply has been so erratic that businesses have shut down and relocated.”*he said.
Nkemdirim lamented that the EEDC has provided no explanation for the power cuts, despite residents regularly paying their electricity bills.
He said “This cannot happen in other areas where EEDC or TCN have transmission outlets. Host communities are supposed to enjoy some benefits, but in Egbu, the reverse is the
“We will storm the TCN office. It’s either they restore electricity or relocate the transmission station from our community”he said
The lack of power has also taken a toll on residents’ personal lives.
Mrs. Joy Nnedi, a resident of the area described the financial burden of running a generator to preserve food and run her household.
She said “I spend over N25,000 weekly on fuel to power my generator. Yet, at the end of the month, EEDC bills us between N8,000 and N10,000 for electricity we never received. This is unjust and unacceptable”
Another resident, who owns a football viewing center, Mr. Augustine Duru highlighted the strain on local businesses
“My profits are wiped out by fuel costs to keep my business running. Customers pay to watch football games, but I spend so much on fuel that I hardly break even.
“We used to have four hours of electricity daily, but now is total darkness” he said.
Residents are urging EEDC to urgently address the issue, restore power supply, and ease the economic strain on the communiy.