Residents and business operators in parts of Abakaliki have raised alarm over a prolonged power outage that has thrown them into darkness for more than three months.
Those affected, who spoke to our correspondent on Tuesday in Abakaliki described the situation as “unbearable” and urged the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to urgently restore supply.
The blackout, which has crippled social and commercial activities, has persisted in Urochukwu, Chukwuma Ofoke, Obaji Streets, Ebebe Junction and parts of Ogbaga Road.
Investigations by out correspondent revealed that the outage followed the breakdown of the Udemezue 11kv transformer at Urochukwu Street in May due to overload.
Since then, consumers connected to the transformer have been without power, paralysing social, economic and commercial activities in the areas.
The development has hit businesses hard; with restaurants, hotels, fashion outlets, salons and drinking joints counting huge losses.
Many operators said they now spend fortunes on fuel to power generators used for their businesses.
Mr Michael Ani, a restaurant owner at Ebebe Junction, appealed to EEDC to hasten repairs, saying the three-month outage had “wrecked businesses and inflicted untold hardship.”
“It’s been a horrifying experience staying without light for almost three months now without the distribution company telling us anything.
” Businesses are badly affected and I pray this does not extend into the Ember months, otherwise many of us will be grounded,” Ani said.
A phone repairer and POS operator, Mr. Elias Nwaiwu, lamented that most of his customers had deserted him.
“You cannot repair phones properly without electricity. Depending on generators means charging extra, but customers are not willing to pay more. Many prefer to go elsewhere,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Chris Iteshi, a barber at No. 4 Urochukwu Street, said reliance on generators had reduced his earnings.
“Before, we charged N500 per haircut with public supply. Now, because of generator cost, we charge N1000.
” Due to the economic hardship, many customers go to places where light is available to pay less for a hair-cut; it’s been very tough,” he said.
Mrs Sylvia Onwe, a housewife, decried the huge food wastage families now suffer.
“Without refrigeration, soups and perishable foods spoil easily; families are suffering and EEDC should hear our cries,” she pleaded.
A staff at the Cardinal Hotels at no. 58 Ogbaga Road who pleaded anonymity lamented the huge cost of operating diesel engine for power supply and called on EEDC to urgently restore the public power supply.
The residents alleged that each building or compound connected to the transformer contributed an average of N20,000 for repairs but claimed that repair work on the faulty transformer hasbeen very slow and accused EEDC of insensitivity.
They further threatened to embark on a civil protest within one week if supply was not restored.
When contacted, Mr Cyprian Nwankwo, EEDC Business Manager for Abakaliki District, said that the repair has been concluded and that the transformer was currently undergoing test and appealed to the residents for more patience.
“The process of repair is almost concluded; the transformer is undergoing test, by the time it is finished, it will be reconnected; we are almost through with the repair,” Nwankwo said.
He commended the residents for their long endurance since the power outage assuring that light would soon be restored to the area.
Meanwhile, the Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Emeka Ezeh, could not be reached for comments. ENDS/
