5 months blackout: EEDC shutdown as Enugu residents protest

Five months after their transformer was taken away by the Power Distribution Company, residents of Owa-Emene in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State on Wednesday, shutdown business activities at the headquarters of the Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC.

They are demanding their transformer and restoration of power to the area ahead the Christmas Celebrations.

Residents who thronged the head office of electricity distribution company in their numbers, carried placards with various inscriptions such as, “EEDC give us back our transformer, ‘What offence did we commit; “We have suffered so much.” “We have been in darkness for five months’” among others.

They lamented that the outage had ruined their businesses.

One of the leaders Chief Ogbuefi, told journalists that the staff of the company had been dribbling the residents, promising since they took away the transformer that it would be brought back in two weeks. “This is five months.”

Ogbuefi in a complaint letter to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC, Engr. Praveen Chorghade, said that 500KVA transformer was carted away on July 18, 2022, without notification.

“I know and can authoritatively state that one coil of the transformer had problem and two were serving the neighborhood. I can also inform you that the transformer was on and functional when we noticed oil shortage and your staff came and switched it off.

“However, my investigation as journalist on the matter showed that your men took the transformer to another location they claimed are making huge return financially.

“As a journalist, I will not hesitate to use my medium and other media platforms to expose the irregularities and incompetence on the part of the establishment. If need be I and other customers might also take legal actions because having stayed for two months in darkness, we think we have been punished enough even for an offence we did not commit.

“Sir, the above is for your perusal for necessary action. We are hoping that you will use your good office to lay this matter to rest.”

Ogbuefi however regretted that despite assurance of Chorghade, the company was yet to return or provide the residents another transformer.

He alleged that some management staff of the company were using the situation to extort money from residents and business owners, promising that they would facilitate the return of the transformer.