Despite the Federal Government’s directive to power distribution companies not to increase electricity tariff across Nigeria, Enugu Electricity Distribution Plc (EEDC) has ignored this order and increased electricity fees in areas of Enugu State. The increment in electricity cost has led to an outcry by residents of Etiti Ngwo in Enugu State.
Etiti Ngwo, an area in Enugu North local government has been without light for nine months with EEDC failing to fix their power issue. The area was first thrown into darkness in February, ever since, the area has been without light. Rather than fix the power problem in the area, EEDC increased the cost of electricity.
According to one of the residents simply known as Jennifer in Etiti Ngwo community, EEDC increased the electricity fee to NGN3000 from NGN2000 every month. The resident said whenever they have light, it’s accumulated into five hours, yet they are expected to pay NGN3000 for deplorable power supply.
AllNews gathered from the resident that EEDC ignored their complaints, “The truth is that there is a form of maltreatment when it comes to giving us light especially we in rural areas. My village had no light since February this year and it has been frustrating.
“They are insisting on we paying more fees with less electricity and how do expect people in the rural areas to pay 3000 naira every month for 5hrs of electricity in a day. Please I will like you to help us reach out to their head office if they can hear you, have been contacting them but they seem not to respond to their messages.”
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had ordered electricity distribution companies to suspend an increase in electricity tariff after Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Federal Government agreed to cancel a nationwide strike. The strike was in response to electricity tariff hike and fuel price increase.
