Enugu govt seals off Electricity Company offices after disconnection notice

By Samuel Amah-Ugbor, Enugu The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, on Tuesday, sealed off the offices of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, in Enugu State. The government took the action after EEDC announced that it would disconnect power supply to the Enugu State Government House and those of other state governments as well as institutions […]

By Samuel Amah-Ugbor, Enugu

The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, on Tuesday, sealed off the offices of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, in Enugu State.

The government took the action after EEDC announced that it would disconnect power supply to the Enugu State Government House and those of other state governments as well as institutions in the South-east over N180 billion debts.

According to the spokesperson of EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, on arrival at the EEDC headquarters, he alongside other staff of the company observed that their headquarters had been sealed.

“We were informed by the security men on duty that in the early hours of today (Tuesday) at about 1:53 a.m., a group of men came and locked up the gates, claiming that the state governor directed the action,” he said.

He said apart from the headquarters, their offices in Abakpa, Awkunanaw and Ogui Areas were also sealed off by the agency.

He said the development was “strange” given that there was no notice of any sort to the EEDC from the ECTDA.

“As at now, there has not been any clear information or communication from the ECDTA explaining their action,” he stated.

He observed the sealing of their offices might be connected to the notice by the EEDC to commence disconnection of its indebted customers from Tuesday.

“Enugu State Government happens to be one of the indebted customers with over N1 billion owed to EEDC. It is important to state that the majority of the state government’s facilities are metered. So, it is not a case of estimated billing.

“EEDC has about N180 billion as debt owed the company and has concluded plans to commence disconnection of indebted customers,” he said.

When contacted on Tuesday, the Chairperson of the ECTDA, Uche Anya, said he would not speak on the incident at the moment because he was going into a meeting with Governor Peter Mbah.

Asked to quickly confirm why the ECTDA sealed the offices of the electricity company, Mr Anyanwu responded “I will return your call.”

He was yet to do so as of the time of the report.