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…Demands govt’s investigation
By Suliyat Quadri
South East Political Watchdog has accused an electricity company of continually frustrating the operations of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Transpower Electricity Distribution Limited.
The development, according to the group, had led to a series of blackouts across Imo State.
It also questioned the license given to the electricity company by the Imo State government through the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC), calling for a thorough investigated into the transaction as available documents allegedly showed that the company was issued a licence a few weeks after its registration.
A statement by the national publicity secretary of the group, Dr Charles Ogbu, alleged that some top officials of the Imo State government were involved in the shady deals that gave birth to the company and its license issuance.
It also accused the electricity company of destroying equipment belonging to the TCN and Transpower, alleging: “The constant damage to federal and distribution infrastructure has directly contributed to the prolonged blackout that has crippled homes, businesses, and essential services across Imo State.”
It further stated that there are strong indications that the operations of electricity company are now posing a direct threat to federal assets, especially after the alleged invasion of the TCN transmission station in Egbu, which pushed Imo State into total darkness.
The statement condemned the use of armed personnel to compel power shutdown, saying it raises wider security concerns.
“No private company has the authority to deploy force, intimidate workers or disrupt public electricity supply in a manner that affects the wellbeing of an entire state,” the statement noted.
It further questioned the ownership structure of the company, saying: “The profiles of the individuals listed as major shareholders do not align with the financial capacity required to own a large electricity business and this gap continues to fuel suspicion among residents.”
The group also challenged the regulatory process that produced the operating licence given to the electricity company, insisting that it lacked due diligence by the regulatory authorities and called for a thorough inquiry into the matter.
The group urged the federal government’s agencies, civil society groups and other regulatory bodies to take urgent steps to protect electricity consumers in Imo State and ensure that no private outfit operates above the law.
