Power outage : House Committee on public petition raises hope for Imo communities
From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
There’s a ray of hope for an improved power supply in over 124 autonomous communities that constitutes Abo Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise, Ezinihitte Mbaise and Ngor Okpuala local government areas of Imo State as the members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions rounded off their two days facts finding tour on why the areas are being shortchanged on power supply.
The committee which was led by their Chairman, Hon. Mike Etaba of Cross River State were in the area for fact findings following a petition written by Barr. Malachy Nwaekpe, an illustrious son of Mbaise ancient clan on 25th September, 2023 against an alleged inimical activities of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission ( NERC) that borders on extortions, over billings, epileptic power supply, moribund electricity equipments including transformers, abandonment and non completion of sub-stations among other complaints.
The Committee was received and guided through out the hectic tours by members of Greater Mbaise Forum with Prof. Polycarp Umunna Nwoha of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife as a Convener and Co-ordinator of the non governmental organization organizing committee of the tour.
The committee accompanied by management staff of EEDC, TCN and NERC visited so many of the communities that have problem of power outage and epileptic supply and paid homage to their traditional rulers and held an interactive sessions with the stakeholders as it concerned the area while giving them assurances of addressing all their complaints and ensuring of an earliest resolution.
Among the places visited include Ibeku autonomous community in Abor Mbaise LGA the host community of the abandoned multi billion Naira 2×60 MVA 132/33 KV Substation and were received by HRH EZE Onyekachi Ukpabi and his cabinet members, moved down to Okpofe in Ezinihitte Mbaise and were given a traditional welcome by HRH EZE Reginald Aguwamba, Ezeoha 11.
There assignment also took them to some communities in Ngor Okpuala LGA as they later visited Umuokrika autonomous community in Ahiazu Mbaise and were received by HRH Eze S.P. Iwu. The committee further proceeded to Ogbor Ihitteaforukwu and paid homage to HRH Eze Barr. Thomas Nwokedi, Okoro 11 among other autonomous communities they visited.
It’s pertinent to know that in each of the venues and autonomous communities, Hon. Mike Etaba, the leader of the delegation as well as the Chairman House Committee on Public Petitions on addressing the stakeholders he made it point blank that there’s a petition before the House of Representatives and the House will look at it critically and invite all the necessary interest groups.
Etaba noted that the essence of the visit is not to discuss the petition to avoid watering it down or committing abortion before pregnancy but to find pulsable ways of addressing the issues that involved poor power supply, completion of the abandoned sub station, restoration and energization of moribund transformers of the effected communities.
He advised the communities on the need for peaceful co-existence, unalloyed cooperation and support to the government, and reiterated their commitments in making adequate recommendations that will led to solving their power outage problems soon.
Earlier, Barr. Malachy Nwaekpe, the petitioner lamented that ignorance, forgetfulness and negligence of the rights of man as the major causes of misfortune in the nation.
Nwaekpe cried out that the State and Federal Government have not being fair to Mbaise ancient clan despite their socioeconomic and geopolitical contributions to the State and the nation at large.
He expressed disgust meant that under the 21st century, that the area doesn’t have any functional substation nor transmission station prompting their epileptic reception of energy from Egbu Owerri and challenged EEDC, TCN and NERC to tell the communities the exact dates they will complete the abandoned power projects.
Adding his voice, Prof. Polycarp Nwoha, the Convener of Greater Mbaise Forum and the Co-ordinator of the Organizing Committee for the facts finding visitation, described his group as an amorphous association of dedicated, independent- minded, responsible citizens of Mbaise , noble men and women of worth and substance who are fired to develop their ancestral clan in all parameters and without a defined constitutional leadership.
According to Nwoha, ” the people of Mbaise, Ngor Okpala and contiguous communities have suffered a lot from perennial blackout, over billing, non chalant attitude in repairs and the supply of electricity. You have heard a lot, how all the transformers, poles, armoured cables were provided, installed and maintain by the people.
” How EEDC engaged in arbitrary bulk billing, disrespect to consumers and outright impunity. The hardworking people have become helpless, hapless, and hopeless in the face of the prevailing malfeasance by the electricity bodies” he stated.
Members of the committee that participated in the visitation includes; Hon. Mathew Nwogu, Hon. Emeka Chinedu, Hon. Adamu Gwawa (Deputy Chairman), Hon. Barr. Okey- Joe Onuakalusi, Hon. Esosa Iyawe, Hon. Fred Agbede and Hon. Victor Afam Ogene among others.
