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From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri
The Imo State Government has alerted residents of a plot by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to frustrate its ‘Light-Up’ project, aimed at providing uninterrupted power supply to the state.
Declan Emelumba, the State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation and Strategy, who disclosed this in a statement he released to journalists, noted that the plot is coming at a time the first phase of the project would commence in Owerri metropolis.
According to Emelumba, “EEDC plans to unleash major power outages to sabotage the project, which is expected to significantly cover Owerri metropolis. The government accuses EEDC of trying to maintain its monopoly on electricity supply and blaming the state government’s licensed company, Orashi Electricity, for the outages.
“The government has ample evidence indicating that EEDC is determined to ensure that this effort of the Imo State Government to provide reliable and affordable electricity for Imo people is frustrated.
“The government has always known that the management of EEDC will want to hold on to its current monopoly of providing erratic electricity to Imo people at exorbitant tariffs.”
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Emelumba further added that “the idea behind the planned massive power outage by EEDC is to turn around and blame the installation process of the Orashi Electricity Company, the state government’s licensed company, for the blackouts.
“EEDC has already prepared a statement it will issue blaming the state government and Orashi Electricity Company for the outages. This is a ploy to turn Imo people against the company and also create the false impression that the company 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.
“The government is by this statement putting Imo people on notice of this unholy plan by EEDC to inflict avoidable hardship and huge losses to businesses through this wicked plan to throw the state into darkness anytime from today or tomorrow.
“Security agencies are also being alerted on this wicked plan by EEDC to sabotage a fully licensed company from fully carrying out its responsibilities and, of course, the implications of such lawlessness,” Emelumba stated.
