STAY AT HOME ORDER: ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS IN UMUOKPU AWKA PREVENT EEDC FROM DISCONNECTING THEIR LIGHT

The stay at home order by the Anambra State  Government as a measure to checkmate the spread of Coronavirus is becoming to have its toll on the people, especially where basic amenities are lacking.

This played out  when men of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) went to  Umuokpu-Awka in Awka South Local Government Area to disconnect some consumers whom they claimed had not paid their electricity bills. However, the angry customers blocked and refused them from climbing electric poles let alone disconnecting them, a situation that led to fracas and fisticuffs.

Residents without objection obeyed the sit at home order and stayed away from public places, including going to queue  up to pay electricity bills, a situation they said often attracted large crowd. The angry youths, who argued that they were not even enjoying steady power supply wondered why EEDC would come to disconnect them in such a critical moment.

One of them, Mr. Richmond Emeke, while voicing out his anger, asked why the distribution company could not wait for two weeks to elapse before embarking on such exercise. Mr. Emeke argued that it was not proper for the distribution company to go about disconnecting people despite the sit at home order.

For Mrs. Chidimma Chiagozie, the power distribution company  had not lived up to its responsibilities and urged them not to sabotage government’s efforts of containing the COVID-19 pandemic. When contacted on a telephone on the legality of the action, the Public Relations Officer of EEDC, Mr. Emeka Eze, said the management of the outfit had begun looking into the matter. Mr. Emeka, however urged the residents to endeavour to pay their bills to enjoy steady power supply.

ONYINYE CHIJIOBI