Right Group Protests Disconnection of Enugu Council from National Grid by EEDC

Christopher Isiguzo A human right group, Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), has petitioned the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, over the disconnection of Isi-Uzo council of Enugu State from the national electricity grid for several months now by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).

In a petition entitled: ‘Re: Unlawful Continuous Disconnection of Isi-Uzo Local Government from National Grid; Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has no Right to Deprive Citizens of Nigeria Access to Electricity’, Olu Omotayo, President of CRRAN, described the action of EEDC as not only unlawful but barbaric and criminal as such should not be tolerated in any decent society.

The group urged the minister to prevail on the company to restore electricity to Isi-Uzo Local Government and its’ environs within the next 48 hours failure of which it would approach court of competent jurisdiction to ‘challenge this infamous and dastardly act.’

“We write to you in respect of the above-mentioned matter on behalf of the entire people of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State of Nigeria who were disconnected from the national grid by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) since June 8, 2017. The rights groups, in a statement at the weekend, stated that EEDC alleged that some youths of Eha-Amufu community in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, came to its office in the local government and beat up its staff and damaged ladders when the youths came protesting over insensitivity of the electricity company in issuing residents outrageous bills that do not match their power consumption; flagrant disconnection of electricity supply, among other excesses of the company. CRRAN insisted that the company has no legal right to disconnect any local government or community from the National Grid, stressing that if there is attack on staff of the company, appropriate security agency ought to be reported to for proper investigation and bring culprits to book but not for the company to resort to self help and take law into its hands.

“We were further informed that after the protest Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), quickly went to Nkalagu sub-station and disconnected the area.

“Unfortunately, Nkalagu substation supplies power to many parts of Enugu state such as Isi-Uzo Local Government, Udenu Local Government, Igboeze North Local Government, Igboeze South Local Government and parts of Nsukka Local Government Area.”