Blackout In The East: What Is Happening And Who Should Be Held Accountable?

Blackout In The East: What Is Happening And Who Should Be Held Accountable? For several weeks, every region in the country, including major ...

Blackout In The East: What Is Happening And Who Should Be Held Accountable?

For several weeks, every region in the country, including major cities such as Lagos, Abuja, Onitsha, and Owerri, has been plagued by consistent power supply blackouts. According to official sources, the persistent power outages are caused by frequent collapses of the national grid, poor power generation by generation companies (GenCos), and accumulated subsidized debts owed by the federal government to these GenCos.

Be that as it may, the Biafran region has been one of, if not the worst, casualties of this energy and power supply dilemma. With a thriving population of millions and a vast individual-based micro-economy that is heavily dependent on energy consumption for efficiency, the situation is further worsened by the climate factor; particularly the heat season, which is currently ongoing.

Statistically, the East, especially the South-East geopolitical zone, contains some of Nigeria’s most developed cities, towns, and villages across the region, with over 80% of the population requiring electricity either through official state power generation sources or through alternative means such as low-power generators and solar-powered batteries for daily activities.

Last year, the IPOB movement and its leadership, at the peak of their sustained campaign for the industrialization of the Biafran region, waged a fierce crusade against the debilitating Nigerian power production and supply sector in the region; particularly against the monopoly Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). IPOB called for a robust solution to the problems plaguing the mainstream Nigerian power sector, either through improved production or diversification of supply to meet the region's prospective needs.

At the time, the pressure prompted a relative improvement in power supply. Unfortunately, as can be witnessed today across the regions, the situation has worsened again.

Notably, the IPOB leadership appears to have reduced attention to the pressure that contributed to the temporary improvement experienced then. We can not tell if this withdrawal by the IPOB leadership is for strategic reasons or perhaps due to the realization that the region’s power sector can not attain true self-sufficiency without severance from the Nigerian state.

Whatever the case may be, what can not be overlooked is that the Eastern population continues to wallow in total darkness, and there appears to be little hope of normalcy in sight.

Reports also indicate that the Presidential Villa has concluded plans to disconnect its power supply from the national grid, effectively abandoning the citizens to their fate.

Unfortunately, the people of the Biafran region appear to be included in this grim reality, until proven otherwise.

It is therefore incumbent upon the people themselves to rise in firm resistance against the status-quo, actively engaging in and leading the discourse on the power supply crisis affecting the region. The progress, survival, and seamless living of everyone depend on it.

The IPOB movement and its leadership, with their coordinated structure and outreach, especially in decision-making within the region, have much to contribute in this regard, as has been witnessed in the recent past. That same vigour is therefore strongly urged to be revived.

We must understand and acknowledge that the key to the bright future we hope for, yearn for, and wish for in our region will be determined by how decisive and resolute we are in ensuring that the source of that brightness, being  electric power, is stable, self-sufficient, and resilient to shocks.

We must establish, re-establish where necessary, and diversify our energy sources to ensure that our aspirations become the reality we live every day.

Family Writers Press International