The Imo State Government says it has obtained credible intelligence of plans by the management of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to unleash major power outages in the State, in a bid to sabotage its ‘Light up Imo project’ aimed at providing uninterrupted light to all parts of the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation, and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, who stated this in a statement on Sunday, said the government has ample evidence indicating that EEDC is determined to ensure that the government’s effort to provide reliable and affordable electricity for Imo people is frustrated.
The government accused the EEDC of insisting on holding to its current monopoly of providing erratic electricity to Imo people at exorbitant tariffs.
According to the Commissioner, 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 blackouts.
“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 the attendant 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 today or tomorrow.
“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,” he said.
But when contacted, the Group Head, Corporate Communications of the EEDC, Emeka Eze told the News Chronicle on Monday, said the allegation was baseless, unfounded, and completely devoid of truth.
He accused the Imo State Government of choosing the path of propaganda as a means of diverting public attention and masking its longstanding hostility toward EEDC and its operations within the state.
Eze said the EEDC remains committed to supporting initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of electricity consumers, and urged the Imo State Government to provide an enabling environment for licensed operators to function effectively, rather than frustrating their operations through the use of state machinery.
“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. What greater act of sabotage could there be?
“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no plan whatsoever by EEDC to carry out any major outage in Imo State. EEDC is committed to serving its customers and continues to make significant investments aimed at improving supply reliability and overall service quality across the state.
“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,” the EEDC spokesperson said.
