Why Enugu communities are in darkness —EEDC spokesman

THE end to electricity blackout in Eha-Amufu, Ikem, Obolo-Afor, Oba and Enugu-Ezike communities in Enugu-North Senatorial Zone of Enugu State may not be in sight following the alleged insecurity and a series of physical attacks on staff of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in the area even as the Head of Communications of the power company, Emeka Ezeh, said the issue would soon be resolved.

Ezeh explained that insecurity and attack experienced by the company’s staff in-charge of some communities in Enugu made it impossible to effect repair on some discovered faults.

The  EEDC Spokesman stated that some of the EEDC staff going about their lawful duty were attacked by over 300 youths of Eha-Amufu community on June 8; while mob also destroyed equipment, furniture and work tools at the EEDC Service Centre in Eha-Amufu.

“As a business, we value our staff and their safety is our greatest concern. In this case, the environment is no longer safe for our men to move in and clear the electrical faults,” he said.

He said that prior to this incident, Eha-Amufu community and its neighbouring communities enjoyed good supply as they were fortunate to be situated at the source of supply, which is from Nkalagu.

“Due to this unfortunate incident, other communities – Ikem, Obolo-Afo, Orba and Enugu Ezike communities – feeding from the same line have been out of supply,” he said.

He, however, said that efforts to resolve the issue and restore supply to the areas had begun as EEDC representatives had been meeting with Isi-Uzo Local Government Chairman, Mr Benjamin Edeoga, some traditional rulers, the President-Generals, and stakeholders of the communities.

“At these meetings, EEDC made some demands, which included: an undertaking by the community assuring and guaranteeing EEDC of the safety of its personnel to enable them move in and clear the fault replacement of all the destroyed equipment and providing the youths that perpetrated the act.

“We are not happy about this development; we are in business and have lost millions of naira as a result of this incident. We are committed to providing service to our customers and expect them to pay for service rendered. If for any reason customers are aggrieved, there are established channels for them to channel their grievances.There is no justification for this gruesome act, and we condemn it in its totality,” he said.

He, however, said that EEDC expressed the hope that the issue would soon be resolved and supply restored to all the affected communities.