Residents Of Saint John Of God Mission School Road, Awka, Other Neighbouring Streets Protest To EEDC Awka Office Over Three Months Total Blackout.
By Paul Ezeoke
Residents of Saint John of God Mission School Road, Awka, and other neighbouring streets on Tuesday, 7th May, 2024, embarked on a peaceful protest to the Awka office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) over total blackout for three months.
The protesters who chanted their grievances marched from Saint John of God road to EEDC office along Zik Avenue, Awka.
They also carried placards with various inscriptions including, “EEDC give us light, “EEDC where is our transformer, “No light for three months now “. among others.
The protesters were received at the EEDC office by the Head of Operations of the Company, Engineer Nwachukwu Obinna.
Expressing their grievances, the spokesperson for the group, Mr Chuks Igwilo, complained that the area including Saint John of God road, Enukora street, Ilora Street, Nwoye Close, some parts of Emma Nnaemeka Street, and other adjoining Streets have remained in total darkness for three months.
Mr Igwilo lamented that this has subjected the residents including elderly people and children to untold hardship because they no longer have easy access to water supply for daily use, while socioeconomic activities have been completely paralysed.
He regretted that officials of the EEDC who carried away the transformer did not tell residents of the area what was wrong with it and have failed to return it more than three weeks after they took it away, and made it clear that the people were no longer ready to endure the hardship.
Also speaking, another resident of the area, Barrister Fred Udensi, said that the visit was to confirm from EEDC the present status of the transformer and when it will be reinstalled to end sufferings residents of the area are being subjected to.
Contributing, another agrieved resident, Mr Chidi Gabriel, noted that the transformer is old and was carrying excess load and suggested that it should be upgraded from the present 300kva to 500kva capacity, while efforts should also be made to put separators in the high tension wire to prevent bridging which, he observed, also affects the transformer.
Responding, the Head of Operations of the Company, Engineer Obinna, commended the group for their peaceful conduct and disclosed that he was recently posted to the Awka office and was not aware of the development.
He assured that the transformer will receive immediate attention to establish whether it could still be repaired or replaced with new transformer,
while the company will also look into other issues raised by the group and ways of ensuring prompt maintaince of facilities in the area,
He urged them to also maintain prompt payment of electricity bills.
