Electricity consumers in Awka, the Anambra capital and environs will on May 10, 2019 hold a day mass action against deplorable electricity supply by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC).
The consumers will as well demand for immediate stoppage of estimated billings and provision of prepaid meters to electricity users by the EEDC.
The mass action tagged, “Awka Electricity Walk”, will be organised by three groups: Recover Nigeria Project, Academic Staff Union of Universities, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Chapter and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone B, Awka chapter.
TBI Africa.com quoted Mr Osita Obi, Convener/Coordinator, Recover Nigeria Project, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Awka that the aim of the walk was to see radical improvement in electricity supply or the Federal Government steps in and revoke the EEDC licence.
Obi, an indigene of Umuawulu, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra, but equally resides in Durumi area of Abuja, said there was a sharp contrast between electricity supply situation in Awka and Abuja.
“I reside in a three-bedroom apartment in Durumi, Abuja and I have four television sets, three refrigerators, two air conditioners, electric iron and other points, yet I use less than N5,000 monthly with a prepaid meter.
“The electricity company in Abuja gives three days uninterrupted supply and before they will take off the supply which doesn’t last up to 30 minutes, consumers will be informed.
“In Awka and other states of the South-East where EEDC is operating, the story is different, consumers residing in two rooms complain of receiving between N5,000 and N17,000 monthly as electricity bills.
“The most worrisome aspect of the plights of consumers here is that the quality of electricity supplied to them by EEDC cannot carry appliances that people have in their homes and business places,” he said.
He said that the organisers of the walk had monitored electricity supply in parts of Imo, Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu, saying that the problem abound in all the five states of South-East covered by EEDC.
Obi added that it was all these ills that the consumers numbering more than 1,500 hoped to draw the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Minister of Works, Power and Housing during the walk.
He explained that apart from notifying the management of EEDC, the groups had written to the Police, Department of State Security, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps and Federal Road Safety Commission in the state.
Obi assured that hoodlums would not hijack the action to cause civil unrest, adding that members of the groups were peace-loving and well informed.
He noted that holding government and corperate bodies accountable was a key way Nigerians would step up good governance in the country.
When contacted, Mr Emeka Eze, the Public Relations Officer, EEDC, Enugu headquarters, after listening to the issues raised against EEDC in a telephone call by NAN, ended the call without a response.
