Electricity Supply: Imo Govt. Accuses EEDC Of Deliberate Sabotage Of State Project

By Charles Igbo

The Imo Stae Government has alerted the people of the State and Security Agencies of what it described as “wicked” plans by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, to deliberately throw the State into darkness in a bid to sabotage the Light Up Imo Project

The project which aims at providing uninterrupted electricity supply to all parts of the State is billed to light up the State soon, beginning from Owerri Municipality.

But according to a statement signed by the Imo State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, the EEDC, aware that it would lose a hold on the people as well as revenue in their continuous epileptic performance, has decided to embark on an unprecedented massive power outage in the State, and put the blame on the installation process of the Orashi Electricity Company. The Orashi Electricity Company is the State Government’s licensed Company through which the people will enjoy uninterrupted power supply.

If the EEDC goes ahead with its plans, the people will suffer massive disruption and losses in their businesses and everyday life. The Government says it is a ploy to turn the people  against the Orashi Electricity Company and so, create the false impression “that the company lacks the technical knowledge and capacity to function.”

Following is the full text of the statement.

EEDC PLANS MASSIVE ELECTRICITY OUTAGE IN IMO TO SABOTAGE STATE GOVERNMENT’S ELECTRICITY PROJECT

“The Imo State Government has obtained credible intelligence of plans by the management of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to unleach major power outages in Imo State in a bid to frustrate and sabotage the Light up Imo project which will soon provide uninterrupted light to all parts of the state.

“The government has ample evidence indicating that EEDC is determined to ensure that this effort of the Imo State government to provide reliable and affordable  electricity for Imo people is frustrated.

“The government has always known that the management of EEDC will want to hold on to its current monopoly of providing erratic electricity to Imo people at  exorbitant tariffs.

“The idea behind the planned massive power outage by EEDC is to turn around and blame the installation process of the Orashi Electricity company, the state government’s licensed company, for the blackouts.

“EEDC has already prepared a statement it will issue  blaming the state government  and  Orashi Electricity Company for the outages. This is a ploy to turn Imo people against the  company and also create the false impression that the company lacks the technical knowledge and capacity to function.

“EEDC is already aware that the first phase of the Light Up Imo Project will significantly cover the entire Owerri metropolis and is  therefore afraid of losing its monopoly and the attendant revenue. That is  the reason for  this desperation.

“The government is by this statement  putting Imo people on notice of this unholy plan by EEDC to inflict avoidable hardship and huge losses to businesses through this wicked plan to throw the state into darkness anytime  from today or tomorrow.

“Security agencies are also being alerted on this  wicked  plan by EEDC to sabotage a fully licensed company from fully carrying out its responsibilities and, of course, the implications of such lawlessness.”