The People Of Umuagi Ihioma And Umuegbe Amaifeke Communities In Orlu LGA of Imo State, are currently battling with intense and excruciating electricity or power black out for over six months now. A prominent indigene of the area, Sir Livy Unigwe lamented that the
EEDC transformer servicing both communities was said to have broken down for over five months ago. He disclosed that when the EEDC Orlu business office was approached by the communities for intervention, they were requested to pay arrears of bill amounting to N4.2million as the only condition to get the transformer repaired and power restored there by the EEDC.
Sir Unigwe added that Umuagi Ihioma and Umuegbe Amaifeke communities rallied round, taxed all taxable adults to raise the money, adding that the N4.2million was allegedly jointly raised by the affected communities and paid to EEDC.
He further hinted that the said payment was made since July 18, 2024, but regretted that unfortunately till the time of this report, no visible action has been a initiated by the EEDC management to repair the faulty transformer and restore supply.
All entreaties to the EEDC officials both at Orlu and Enugu head office had met with ignominy,he alleged.
“The representatives of both communities who engaged with the EEDC were made objects of caricature by the EEDC officials who tossed them around with deceitful directions, which ended up at shirking responsibilities and shying away from the problem.”
Unigwe, a retired director of INEC, and the Okwuruoha, Ezinwa Orlu , equally lamented what he described as “the untold and irrecoverable hardship the ugly situation has subjected his people “.
He pointed out that businesses, especially, those that relied on electricity, have suffered irretrievably, resulting in loss of millions of naira in revenue and wasted manpower.
“Our locals, especially the aged, whose sons and daughters communicate with, are severed because their telephones can no longer be charged. Some of the oldies, out of frustration, utilise their meager welfare, upkeep and pocket money in buying petrol at exorbitant prices or to patronize commercial Telephone charging outlets .
“For how long will this obvious act of insensitivity and brazen impunity prevail? Money paid to the EEDC, payment acknowledged by the EEDC… yet the EEDC turned indifferent.
“This is unacceptable. I call on the authorities- the Imo State Government, ISERC, the NERC, to please, urgently intervene in this matter and salvage our communities from deliberately induced suffering,” Unigwe moaned.
