PLANNED PROTEST OVER ERRATIC POWER SUPPLY IN ANAMBRA PUT ON HOLD

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By: Fasasi Hammad

A protest scheduled for Saturday by the Electricity Consumers Rights Network, led by Osita Obi, against poor electricity supply by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and FirstPower has been suspended.

Speaking with journalists in Awka on Friday afternoon, Obi clarified that the protest had only been suspended, not cancelled.

He explained that the decision followed security concerns raised by agencies including the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Anambra State Government ahead of the governor’s inauguration scheduled for March 17.

According to him, the agencies warned that the protest could potentially be hijacked by hoodlums.

Obi revealed that he had received more than 157 calls, including some threatening messages, urging him to call off the protest. However, he dismissed claims that he was bribed to suspend the demonstration, insisting that no one could influence his decision with money.

“After listening to the concerns raised, we decided to suspend the protest, not cancel it,” he said.

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Flanked by co-conveners Tony Erike and Okpara Nonso, Obi added that he would not want to take any step that could negatively affect the state.

He encouraged electricity consumers to attend a town hall meeting scheduled by FirstPower on March 18, where residents will have the opportunity to ask questions about the electricity situation in the state.

“We will continue to engage; we are not backing down,” Obi said.

He also criticised the quality of electricity supply in the state, describing it as extremely poor and noting that even the few hours of power provided are often inconsistent and unreliable.

Electricity consumers in Anambra, under the Electricity Consumers Rights Initiative and the Electricity Consumers Rights Network, had earlier planned the protest against FirstPower and EEDC over erratic power supply and high estimated billing.

The planned protest was intended to highlight the growing frustration among residents over unstable electricity despite the introduction of higher Band A tariffs.

The development comes amid the recent transfer of electricity distribution operations in the state to FirstPower, a subsidiary of EEDC.