By Florencemary Nwabueze
For more than two decades, residents of communities in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu state have lived without electricity, relying on lanterns and generators for survival in a region that produced the state’s sitting governor, Peter Mbah.
Communities such as Nomeh Unateze, Nkerefi, Mburubu, and Nara have remained in darkness for years due to vandalised infrastructure, unresolved billing disputes, and what residents describe as prolonged neglect by both the power distribution company and successive governments.
Investigations showed that that the prolonged blackout largely resulted from the vandalism of electricity infrastructure, including stolen high-tension cables and damaged transformers.
In several communities, electricity poles and wires are still visible, but power supply has not been restored for years.
According to a resident who pleaded to anonymous, said Nomeh Unateze, which comprises 10 villages, has been without electricity for over 20 years after its community transformer was damaged.
He said that the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, failed to replace the transformer despite efforts by the community to raise funds for repairs.
Speaking to Vanguard, a community leader in Nomeh Unateze, Mr. Uzuoroye, described the situation as heartbreaking.
He said: “We are just living in darkness. Every time there is an election, politicians come here and make promises, but they never return to fulfil them.
“We have approached them many times, but before their tenure ends, nothing is done.”
He added: “All the governors that have governed Enugu State have visited Nomeh Unateze. Even the sitting governor, Peter Mbah, whom we voted for, is from Nkanu East. This is his hometown, yet he has abandoned us. We now look like rejected people.”
Another resident, Ngozi from Nomeh Unateze, said the community had become frustrated with politicians.
“We don’t want to vote for politicians anymore. After elections, they abandon us. We don’t want to see them come here again to campaign,” she lamented.
Also, an indigene who visited Nkerefi and spoke anonymously told Vanguard, said: “There is no NEPA light in all the communities, yet you still see electricity poles and wires everywhere.”
Similarly, a resident of Mburubu that pleaded to anonymous, said: “There is no functional electricity infrastructure in our region. Mburubu has lacked electricity for about 20 years. It is disheartening that communities in Enugu State are still living in darkness.”
When contacted, the spokesman of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, Mr. Emeka Eze, said the situation predates the existence of the company.
“This situation surpasses EEDC because 20 years is a very long time ago. EEDC was not even in existence then,” he stated.