Imo, EEDC trade blame over imminent blackout
Gov Hope Uzodimma of Imo State
The Imo State Government on Sunday said the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) had perfected plans to throw the state into a prolonged blackout.
It pointed out that the company wanted to frustrate the state government ‘Light UP Imo Project.’
This is just as the EEDC accused the government of promoting baseless and unfunded allegations.
The Imo State Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation, and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, on Sunday in Owerri, said, “It is a ploy by EEDC to frustrate and sabotage the Light Up Imo project which is expected to provide uninterrupted light to all parts of Imo State.”
Recall that Governor Hope Uzodimma had announced plans that from November, all the parts of Owerri federal constituency will enjoy 24 hours electricity supply.
Emelumba alleged that EEDC was determined to ensure that the state government failed in its bid to provide reliable and affordable electricity for Imo people.
He said the state government had credible information that the EEDC management planned to maintain it’s current monopoly of providing erratic electricity to Imo people at exorbitant tariffs.
Emelumba said, “The idea behind the planned massive power outage by EEDC is to turn around and blame the installation process of the Orashi Electricity company, the state government’s licensed company, for the blackout.
“EEDC has already prepared a statement it will issue blaming the state government and Orashi Electricity Company for the outages. This is a ploy to turn Imo people against the company and also create the false impression that the company lacks the technical knowledge and capacity to function.
“EEDC is already aware that the first phase of the Light Up Imo Project will significantly cover the entire Owerri metropolis and is therefore afraid of losing its monopoly and revenue. That is the reason for this desperation.
“The government is by this statement putting Imo people on notice of this unholy plan by EEDC to inflict avoidable hardship and huge losses to businesses through this wicked plan to throw the state into darkness anytime from now”.
He called on security agencies to be at alert about EEDC’s plan saying, “Security agencies are also being alerted on this wicked plan by EEDC to sabotage a fully licensed company from fully carrying out its responsibilities and, of course, the implications of such lawlessness”.
However, the EEDC in a statement by its group head of Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh, said there was no plan fot any major power outage in the state.
He said the state government’s allegation was baseless, unfounded, and completely devoid of truth, urging the public to disregard the claim.
According to him, armed policemen allegedly acting on the instructions of the state government, stormed the Egbu Station of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and forced the operator on duty, at gunpoint, to shut down all feeders, saying the “action plunged customers into total darkness. What greater act of sabotage could there be”?
The EEDC added, “It is on record that on Saturday, 15th November 2025, armed policemen, allegedly acting on the instructions of the Imo State Government, stormed the Egbu Station of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and forced the operator on duty, at gunpoint, to shut down all feeders. This action plunged customers into total darkness.
“It is unfortunate that the Imo State Government has chosen the path of propaganda as a means of diverting public attention and masking its longstanding hostility toward EEDC and its operations within the state.
The EEDC added, “However, we urge all our customers in Imo State to note that if any power outage occurs from this moment onward, the responsible party is clear. The state government, having raised false alarms and made unfounded, unverified, and baseless accusations against EEDC, should be held accountable”.
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