Imo Blackout: Group Accuses Electricity Company of Sabotage, Destruction of National Assets
By Uzoma Mba
South East Political Watchdog has accused an electricity company of continually frustrating the operations of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Transpower Electricity Distribution Limited, a development the group says has resulted in persistent blackouts across Imo State.
In a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Dr. Charles Ogbu, the group questioned the licence granted to the electricity company by the Imo State government through the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC).
It called for a thorough investigation into the entire transaction, alleging that available documents showed the firm was issued a licence only a few weeks after its registration.
According to the group, “some top officials of the Imo State government were involved in the shady deals that gave birth to the company and its licence issuance.”
It also accused the electricity outfit of destroying equipment belonging to the TCN and Transpower. The statement alleged: “The constant damage to federal and distribution infrastructure has directly contributed to the prolonged blackout that has crippled homes, businesses, and essential services across Imo State.”
The group further claimed that there were strong indications that the operations of the electricity company now posed a direct threat to federal assets, particularly after the alleged invasion of the TCN transmission station in Egbu, which, it said, pushed Imo State into total darkness. It also condemned the use of armed personnel to compel a shutdown of power supply, stressing that such actions raise wider security concerns.
“No private company has the authority to deploy force, intimidate workers or disrupt public electricity supply in a manner that affects the wellbeing of an entire state,” the statement noted.
It also questioned the ownership structure of the company, asserting: “The profiles of the individuals listed as major shareholders do not align with the financial capacity required to own a large electricity business and this gap continues to fuel suspicion among residents.”
South East Political Watchdog insisted that the regulatory process leading to the issuance of the company’s operating licence lacked due diligence, urging a full-scale inquiry into the matter.
It called on federal government agencies, civil society organisations, and other regulatory bodies to take urgent steps to protect electricity consumers in Imo State and ensure that no private entity operates above the law.
