Anambra residents issue electricity coy ultimatum over blackout
Residents of Anambra State have issued the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) one week ultimatum to restore light in the capital city of Awka. It was gathered that parts of the state capital have been without electricity for over four months.
The protesters, comprising of professionals, market leaders, youths and civil servants, stormed the office of the electricity company with a threat to shut it down if nothing is done at the expiration of the ultimatum.
The residents, who were led by Engr. Kenneth Moneke, under the auspices of Anambra Association of Electricity Consumers (AAEC), alleged that some of the areas have not had power in the past four months, while the residents keep receiving estimated bills from (EEDC) amounting to about N20,000 a month.
“We don’t want to allow the youths to take to violence, what we need is peace in the land. But by next week Friday, if EDDC fails to address this issue, we will have no other option than to close down its offices across the state.
“The explanations from this office are not well received by the people, because electricity distribution is not rocket science but practical.
“We have come to realize that what you do in this state is to make money for those in charge and allow the poor masses to suffer the consequences, but we are here today to tell you that such idea will end immediately.
“The situation has touched everybody, this place will be shutdown. Take the message to the appropriate authorities, because we have seen that the problems are beyond Moneke told the manager.
Responding, the Manager of Awka distribution centre, Mr. Samuel Onuorah Udemgba, said the EEDC ran a system that was controlled by the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC). “The commission gave EEDC, a template that we follow. The problem is not from us, the consumers have every right to be angry. “We are going to work now based on the visit, but you should know that the two transformers from Nibo substation are having problems, in fact, what we use now is the smaller one for the entire Awka and that is the major challenge we are facing right now.
“What we are asking from you people is to have patience, as the company is making every arrangement to return things to normal,” Udemgba said. you,”