The South East Political Watchdog has leveled serious allegations against an electricity provider, claiming that it has persistently undermined the functionality of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Transpower Electricity Distribution Limited, a scenario that the coalition argues has led to relentless power outages throughout Imo State.
In a declaration endorsed by its national publicity secretary, Dr. Charles Ogbu, the coalition scrutinized the license awarded to the electricity provider by the Imo State government through the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC).
It demanded a comprehensive investigation into this entire arrangement, alleging that existing documentation reveals that the company was granted a license merely a few weeks following its establishment.
According to the organization, certain high-ranking officials within the Imo State government were implicated in the dubious transactions that culminated in the company’s formation and its subsequent licensing.
Furthermore, it accused the electricity firm of vandalizing equipment owned by both TCN and Transpower. The statement asserted: “The incessant destruction of federal and distribution infrastructure has directly fueled the extended blackouts that have paralyzed households, enterprises, and essential services throughout Imo State.”
The collective also claimed that there are compelling indications that the activities of the electricity provider now represent a direct menace to federal assets, especially following the purported incursion at the TCN transmission station in Egbu, which they assert plunged Imo State into utter darkness. They condemned the employment of armed personnel to enforce a cessation of power delivery, emphasizing that such behavior raises alarming security issues.
“No private enterprise possesses the authorization to employ force, intimidate laborers, or disrupt public electricity supply in a manner that jeopardizes the welfare of an entire state,” the statement highlighted.
Moreover, it questioned the ownership configuration of the company, contending: “The profiles of individuals identified as principal shareholders do not correspond with the financial acumen necessary to govern a substantial electricity enterprise, and this disparity continues to incite suspicion among local residents.”
The South East Political Watchdog maintained that the regulatory procedure leading to the issuance of the company’s operational license was deficient in due diligence, calling for an exhaustive inquiry into the issue.
It urged federal government bodies, civil society organizations, and other regulatory entities to undertake immediate actions to safeguard electricity consumers in Imo State and to ensure that no private entity operates above the law.1
