#endsars Protesters Storm EEDC, Cite ‘Outrageous’ Electricity Bills


The Okpara Avenue and other parts of the Enugu metropolis were, last Thursday, grounded as traders, mechanics and various artisans with their businesses at Coal Camp, Ogbete Main Market, staged a peaceful protest to the Southeast Regional Office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, with complaints of high electricity billings.

They claimed that the bills kept skyrocketing every billing cycle and that all efforts made to draw the attention of the distribution company had failed.


Our correspondent captured protesters singing their resolve to always fight for their rights in solidarity even as some of them carried placards bearing inscriptions such as: #eedc Bills Kill Faster Than COVID-19#, ‘Say no to high bill from EEDC,’ ‘we shall continue to fight until we get what we want,’ among others.



One of the protesters, a mechanic who identified himself simply as Osita, said, “I live in one room and, this last month alone, my electricity bill was N13, 700. I don’t stay in my room during the daytime. And not every evening that we do have light. So, how do they check the bills? EEDC has come to kill us. We shall continue to protest until they change how they cheat us. Every week, they disconnect our supply and ask us to pay N2, 000 each for reconnection.”

A mother, Nkechi, who carried a placard with the inscription ‘EEDC, Stop Extorting Coal Campers’, said, “I sell waterproofs at Coal Camp. My bill is over N40, 000. What do I get to be given such bills? Every day, they come with new bills. They say that they will give us electricity metres, but not even one person has got any. They are simply cheating us.”

One of the protesters, who claimed he was briefed by the authorities of the EEDC after he was invited inside their office, addressed the protesters saying, “We resolved some issues, but we were told to end the protest and return to our various businesses where I will brief you. And if we didn’t agree (with the terms of the resolution), we (could) resume our protest on Saturday.”

However, his response did not appear to be acceptable to his colleagues who booed him for not extracting immediate answers from the EEDC officials. The protesters proceeded with their march, heading towards the premises of the Radio Nigeria, Enugu.

Efforts to speak with the head of the media, EEDC, Mr Emeka Eze, proved abortive.

#orientdailynews #endsars