Ebonyi villages accuse EEDC of five-year blackout, business collapse

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Residents of Obodoaba and Ikpele villages in Obeagu community, in the Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have accused the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc of causing business collapse, neglecting and exploiting them despite huge payments made by villagers.

The two villages claimed that five years after Obeagu Transformer 1, which served them developed fault and the transformer was removed by EEDC officials, appeals and financial commitments have failed to make EEDC restore power, crippling economic and social life in the area.

A representative and leader in the community, Mr. Calaminus Ogbuabor, told the South East PUNCH that the situation is devastating, especially for small businesses that depend on electricity.

“Till now, no light in both villages — Ikpele and Obodoaba. Businesses here that depend on electricity are totally grounded. Some have even migrated out of the community because they cannot survive without power.”

The leader added that the prolonged blackout has turned festive seasons into periods of hardship.

“This Christmas, like every other year, we are going to remain in darkness. But this year is even worse because of the cost of fuel. Those who have generators will spend a fortune to buy fuel to have light. Many cannot afford it, so we live in darkness.”

Ogbuabor alleged that the community complied with all financial demands made by EEDC, including the payment of over N900,000, which was deducted from accumulated energy bills, with the understanding that a new transformer would be installed.

“We paid over N900,000 to EEDC after the EEDC promised to give us a new 300KVA transformer. But instead of giving us the 300KVA transformer to replace the one which had fault, they brought an old 200KVA transformer. Not even a new one.”

He explained that the replacement transformer failed within a month due to overload.

“A transformer that could not even serve one village was brought to serve two villages.

That 200KVA lasted just one month and got spoiled again,” he added.

The community member accused EEDC of diverting their original government-provided transformer to another location.

“They took away our 300KVA transformer and gave it to another customer. What EEDC does is remove community transformers and give them to high-valued customers, abandoning rural communities,” he alleged.

Ogbuabor further claimed that EEDC later demanded a full drum of transformer oil before reinstalling the allegedly repaired unit.

“They said they have repaired the transformer but that we must provide a drum of oil before they will come and install it. It has been over a year now and nothing has happened,” he said.

Other residents said they have made several trips to EEDC offices in Nsukka and Eha-Amufu under the MainPower subsidiary, with no tangible outcome.

Beyond darkness, residents say the blackout has destroyed livelihoods, with welders, barbers, cold room operators and small-scale manufacturers forced to shut down.

“Despite being a private company, they keep exploiting us with estimated bills but cannot provide infrastructure. If government provides electricity equipment, they absorb it as their property. But once it spoils, the community is left in darkness unless we buy another one and donate it to them,” a resident who declined identification said.

The residents are now appealing to the Ebonyi State Government, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and relevant authorities to intervene, insisting that only a 500KVA transformer can adequately serve the two villages.

Meanwhile several efforts to speak with the EEDC Head, Corporate Communications, Mr Emeka Ezeh were unsuccessful.

HE did not take his calls; and as of the time of filing this report on Tuesday, Ezeh has yet to respond to a text message sent to him.

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