By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
23- NOV-2025

The Imo State Government has raised a serious alarm over what it describes as a calculated and deliberate plan by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to plunge the state into a prolonged and unnecessary power outage. According to the government, credible intelligence has revealed that the management of EEDC is preparing to shut down electricity supply across Imo State as a strategy to frustrate and sabotage the soon-to-be-launched Light Up Imo project—an initiative poised to deliver stable and affordable power to all parts of the state.

Government sources indicate that EEDC’s management is deeply unsettled by the progress of the Orashi Electricity Company, the state-owned firm licensed to provide electricity under the new power sector reforms. Evidence made available suggests that EEDC is determined to resist the state’s efforts to break its longstanding monopoly, which many residents have criticized for high tariffs and unreliable supply. According to the government, the planned blackout is part of EEDC’s attempt to undermine the confidence Imo people have begun to show in the state-driven electricity programme.

Further intelligence, the state says, shows that EEDC has already drafted a public statement in anticipation of the planned outage. The alleged statement reportedly blames the blackouts on installation activities being carried out for the Orashi Electricity Company. Government officials believe this is a deliberate ploy to mislead the public, create confusion, and paint the state’s electricity provider as incompetent. The ultimate aim, they say, is to turn citizens against the Light Up Imo project and derail the progress being made in providing a dependable power alternative.

The Imo State Government notes that the first phase of the Light Up Imo project is set to cover the entire Owerri metropolis, a development that will drastically reduce EEDC’s influence and revenue in the state. It asserts that the company’s desperation stems from the fear of losing its exclusive control over electricity distribution in the region. By allegedly planning a statewide outage, EEDC hopes to discredit both the state government and the Orashi Electricity Company, thereby preserving its monopoly position.

Through this special public service announcement, the government is notifying Imo residents to be vigilant and prepared for any sudden blackout that may occur from today onward. It warns that the planned outage, if carried out, will inflict avoidable suffering on households, cripple business activities, and disrupt social and economic life across the state. The government insists that such an action would not only be irresponsible but also a direct attack on the welfare and aspirations of Imo people.

Security agencies, regulatory bodies, and relevant authorities have also been alerted to what the government describes as a dangerous and unlawful plot to obstruct a properly licensed company from performing its statutory duties. The state maintains that no entity, no matter how influential, will be allowed to sabotage a project designed to improve the quality of life for all Imo residents. Any deliberate attempt to destabilize the state’s electricity sector, it warns, will be met with full legal and institutional measures.

The announcement was signed by Declan Emelumba,
Honourable Commissioner for Information, Public Orientation, and Strategy, Imo State Government.