Umuana, Abia State, Jan. 25, 2026 – The residents of Umuana and other Communities in Ndume Ibeku area of Abia State have issued a distress call to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over constant electricity outage that has plunged the community into darkness since December 2025.
The communities alleged that the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) would sometimes restore electricity at midnight when residents are asleep only to disconnect it before morning.
The residents also alleged that the EEDC has continued to issue “exorbitant” estimated bills to residents in spite of being disconnected from the national grid for nearly two months.
The community leaders described the actions of the EDCC as insensitive and fraudulent, stressing that the prolonged power outage has disrupted human and economic activities across the communities.
The residents said they had been having severe water crisis as their boreholes had been rendered useless because of lack of electricity supply.
They said they they were now forced to rely on expensive and often unsafe alternatives for water supply.
The residents said local entrepreneurs like cold room operators, welders, and hair stylists have had their businesses paralysed as the rising cost of petrol has made generator-dependent business unsustainable.
The community members expressed fears over the increased risk of crime facilitated by the perpetual darkness on the streets at nights.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Chief Nnamdi Ngele, a community leader, lamented the systemic neglect by the EEDC.
“Our people have suffered untold hardship since December 2025. Businesses are folding up and the lack of water is becoming a health crisis.
“The height of the irony is that while our transformers are cold and our houses are dark, EEDC officials still have the audacity to bring estimated bills. We are being asked to pay for darkness,” Chief Ngele said.
He called for an immediate intervention of the federal government to restore power supply and repair or replace faulty infrastructure causing the blackout.
Chief Ngele urged the electricity company to stop estimated billing issuance for periods where no electricity was supplied.
The community leader said they are prepared to escalate this matter to the NERC Forum office and relevant consumer protection agencies if the EEDC fails to act within the coming days.
When contacted, an official of EEDC said he was not authorised to speak on the issues.
