Residents of Ologo, Coal Camp, and Uwani in Enugu metropolis have expressed frustration over a power outage that has lasted more than a week, calling on the government and relevant authorities to urgently restore electricity.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, the residents appealed directly to Governor Peter Mbah to step in, saying the blackout has severely affected businesses, households, and livelihoods.
The situation began after Main Power Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MPECL), in an August 4 statement, accused its parent company, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), of cutting supply. EEDC’s decision reportedly followed the Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (EERC) order to reduce the Band A tariff from ₦209 to ₦160 per kWh.
Since the new tariff took effect on August 1, customers in Bands B to E have experienced total blackout in some parts of the city, disrupting economic activity.
Obum Chijioke, a welder in Coal Camp, said he has spent nearly all his earnings on fuel to continue working, often leaving him with no profit. He urged authorities to investigate and restore power quickly.
A cleric at a church on Zik Avenue, who preferred to remain anonymous, said the church now spends between ₦25,000 and ₦30,000 daily on diesel to power its activities, adding that the costs are unsustainable.
