EEDC, Imo Gov’t, Accuse Each Other Of Planned Sabotage
The government of Imo State and Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) have accused each other of plotting to sabotage power supply in the state.
The Imo State government and EEDC traded blame in separate Statements signed by Declan Emelumba.
Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation, and Strategy and Signed Emeka Ezeh, Group Head, Corporate Communications respectively.
Emelumba alleged that the management of EEDC had planned to unleash major power outages in a bid to frustrate and sabotage the Light up Imo project targeted at providing uninterrupted light to all parts of the state.
He said EEDC wanted to hold on to its current monopoly to ensure that the effort of the Imo State government to provide reliable and affordable electricity for Imo people was. frustrated.
“EEDC wants to blame the state government and Orashi Electricity Company for the outages, a ploy to turn Imo people against the company and also create the false impression that it 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,” he said.
But in a reaction, the EEDC described the allegation as baseless, unfounded, and completely devoid of truth urging customers in Imo State and the general public to disregard the claim in its entirety.
Ezeh said EEDC had no intention whatsoever to carry out any major power outages in Imo state and described the propaganda by the State Government as unfortunate .
Ezeh said it was sad that the Imo State government had chosen the path of propaganda as a means of diverting public attention and masking its longstanding hostility toward EEDC and its operations within the state.
According to him, for the avoidance of doubt, there is no plan whatsoever by EEDC to carry out any major outage in Imo State
*EEDC is committed to serving its customers and continues to make significant investments aimed at improving supply reliability and overall service quality across the state
“We urge all our customers in Imo State to note that if any power outage occurs from this moment onward, the responsible party is clear.
“The state government, having raised false alarms and made unfounded, unverified, and baseless accusations against EEDC, should be held accountable,” he said.
Ezeh said EEDC remained committed to supporting initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of electricity consumers and called on Imo State government to provide an enabling environment for licensed operators to function effectively.
EEDC said that on Nov. 15, armed policemen, allegedly acting on the instructions of the Imo State Government, stormed the Egbu Station of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and forced the operator on duty, at gunpoint, to shut down all feeders.
