Enugu Disco plunges Imo into darkness since 2 weeks

we’re working to restore power – spokesman

Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has plunged several parts of Imo State into darkness since two weeks now, with no flicker of electricity in the affected places.

Several days of investigations carried out by our correspondent in parts of the state showed that a circuit breaker at a major distribution line at Owerri – Onitsha Expressway got destroyed.

BusinessDay reliably gathered from an insider that Owerri Business District beckoned on EEDC headquarters in Enugu to approve and deploy materials for the circuit-breaker’s replacement, but Enugu asked Owerri to source for it and repair, whereas the latter said it didn’t have the N1.1 million to procure the material.

Since two weeks and half, the damaged circuit breakers have remained in disrepair while EEDC pretend as if nothing is wrong.

Most places around the Imo capital, total darkness pervades, as residents run their power generating sets for hours each day. Mostly affected areas include Owerri the state capital, parts of Orlu senatorial zone, some 35km away.

Some residents in Egbeada, Ohii, Akwakuma, Amakohia, parts of Okigwe Road, among many others in Owerri North, Owerri West and Owerri Municipal local government areas told our correspondent that they had gone for at least two weeks without a flicker of electricity supply by the EEDC.

Ann Ejuk-Ben, who runs a day-care outfit in Spibat area of Akwakuma in Owerri North Local Area, said she had a fortune on fuel running her generator each day. She also informed that she had to cook and re-cook her meals daily at huge costs, since her deep freezer had been idle without any activity for two weeks now.

Henry Okafor, the communications manager of Owerri EEDC, confirmed to BusinessDay on phone that they suffered loss of two circuit breakers at the 205 Injection Sub-station along Owerri – Onitsha Road, which knocked off electricity supply to most parts of the state.

He said they had been attempting to fix the problem, leading to restoration of power supply.

“Our engineers are working hard to restore (power) supply as soon as possible,” he said, pleading that it was a gradual process to getting the injection station back in shape.

Meanwhile, Enugu Disco is among the two electricity distribution companies (Benin Disco is the other) slated for prosecution by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) for alleged “Exploitative Electricity Billing and violating CPC summons in its ongoing investigation of activities of the country’s power distribution companies (Discos), following repeated consumer complaints.

Dupe Atoki, CPC director-deneral, said the agency would commence prosecution procedure against Benin and Enugu distribution companies under its enabling Act.