Over 200 protesters storm Enugu distribution company to protest "crazy" bill

By Chinonyelum Ojiaku

Over 200 protesters from Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra state yesterday stormed the office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Nnewi over what they described as ‘crazy bill’ by the company.

The protesters from five different Estates in Oba namely the Ofuobi, Moonlight, New World, New Life, Unique and  were carrying placards written on it ’28,375 per flat is a crime’, ‘Please stop terrorizing us with crazy bills’, ‘Enough is enough’ and all that, lamented the exorbitant bills sent to them by EEDC every month.

The protesters were representing over 10,000 residents of the Estates.

Speaking with the Chairman of the Coalition Estates Oba Comrade Ikechukwu Onyekwere noted the residents did all the installation both the transformers, cables and all that yet the company charge them so high. “The transformers were bought by the landlords, all the installations were done by us, the EEDC did not contribute anything yet they charge us so high we cannot afford this.

In a situation where a two-bedroom flat comprising two rooms and a sitting room were charged as high as 28 to 29 thousand naira per month is uncalled for. We have delegated a 5-man committee three consecutive times to the office of EEDC with the plea for them to look into it yet they did not do anything.  We are here again in a peaceful demonstration pleading to them.

“We are bent on fighting our cause till they do something about it. This is too much, it is outrageous . Some of us are civil servants are where do you expect us to get the money from. We pay house rents, pay school fees, take care of our families and relations where do you expect us to get the money. The government should please come to our aid. We cannot continue this way. Yet the light is not all steady. All we are asking them is to stop the exorbitant bills or give us pre paid meter.” the Comrade emphasized.

A landlady who spoke with the press and a human right activist Comrade Augustina Maduako who have lived in the estate for more than two years noted that the EEDC did not compensate them that did all the installation rather they started immediately to collect money from them. “ How can we be paying house rent of 10,000 to 12,000 naira but we pay electricity bill of 28,000 to 29,000 thousand naira. “ Mrs. Maduako told the EEDC to take back their light if they cannot reduce bills.

She revealed that hundreds of residents have parked out of the area and more are still moving out because of the high bills.