Residents of Onu-Agu community in Amechi Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, have appealed to Governor Peter Mbah and MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited to intervene in a power outage that has lasted for more than three months.
The residents said the prolonged outage had affected businesses and increased household expenses, particularly the cost of fuelling generators.
The community staged a peaceful protest at the residence of the Enugu State Commissioner for Local Government and Rural Development, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, an indigene of the area.
The protesters were led by former Secretary of Enugu South Local Government Area, Hon. Emmanuel Ike Orji, alongside community stakeholder, Hon. Dave Agbo.
The residents attributed the outage to the condition and capacity of the community’s ageing transformer, which they said had become overloaded due to the growing population. They appealed for its replacement with a modern, higher-capacity transformer.
“Our people are suffering heavily under this prolonged blackout. The existing transformer is outdated and completely overloaded. We are appealing directly to His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, and MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited to replace this breakdown-prone unit with a modern, high-capacity transformer so our community can breathe again.”
The Chairman of the community’s Electricity Committee, Hon. Goddy Edeh, said the committee had previously written to MainPower concerning the outage and that an inspection team subsequently visited the area.
He said the absence of further action after the inspection prompted the residents to seek government intervention.
“We have written to MainPower Electricity Distribution and their inspection team came to assess the situation, but since then, nothing has been done. The darkness continues, which is why we decided to seek government intervention.”
Receiving the protesters, Commissioner Ogbodo commended them for conducting the demonstration peacefully and assured them that their concerns would be communicated to Governor Mbah and the relevant authorities.
“I commend you for the peaceful and civilised manner in which you have conducted this demonstration. I have heard your cries, and I am assuring this community that your urgent plea for light and economic relief will be delivered directly to Governor Peter Mbah and the relevant power sector authorities.”
Ogbodo also commended the residents for ensuring that the protest remained orderly and was not disrupted by hoodlums.
However, speaking on behalf of the Network Manager of MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited, Awkunanaw District, the company’s Safety Officer, Engr. Vincent Okeke, said MainPower had not received formal notification specifically concerning the reported outage.
Okeke acknowledged the concerns raised by the community and advised its leaders to submit a formal petition to enable the company’s technical team to assess the situation and determine the appropriate response.
“We acknowledge the grievances of the Onu-Agu community. However, MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited was not officially notified of this specific outage. I advise the community leaders to immediately put down their grievances in a formal petition so our technical team can assess the site and address the issue promptly.”
The community, however, maintained that its Electricity Committee had already communicated the matter to MainPower in writing and that the company’s inspection visit followed the earlier correspondence.
The residents are now awaiting further intervention from the relevant authorities, with the hope that the issue will be addressed and electricity restored to the community.
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