The Management of Transpower Electricity Distribution Limited (TEDL), a subsidiary of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), has condemned what it described as the indiscriminate destruction of its power infrastructure by contractors allegedly engaged by the Imo State Government.
TEDL, which operates under a license issued by the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC), is responsible for distributing electricity across the state.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Enugu by Mr. Emeka Ezeh, Group Head, Corporate Communications of EEDC, the company said the actions of the contractors had plunged several parts of the state into darkness.
According to him, both Low-Tension (LT) and High-Tension (HT) poles have been damaged, along with transformers serving affected communities.
Ezeh said the company “regretted the inconvenience and impact of the activities of government contractors who destroyed its equipment without notice.”
He stressed that the contractors should have coordinated with TEDL to arrange a smooth relocation of the facilities.
“We are not against the state government carrying out developmental projects, but we are concerned with the continued destruction of our facilities without recourse to the company.
“To make matters worse, the state government’s contractors have continued to construct and extend distribution lines in an uncoordinated manner without consideration for safety standards,” he said.
One notable incident occurred on August 30 in Orlu, where six High-Tension poles located behind Orlu Hotel, which supply electricity to Mgbee, Ogboko, Omuma, and Ugbelle communities, were knocked down by excavators reclaiming land on behalf of the government.
Ezeh explained that this led to the tripping of the Orlu 33KV line on earth fault, cutting off electricity to the entire area.
When the case was reported to the Chairman of Orlu Local Government Area, he confirmed that the land reclamation project was authorized by the state government and promised to contact those executing it.
However, TEDL’s efforts to file a formal report at the Orlu Police Station were unsuccessful.
“However, efforts by the company to formally report the matter at Orlu Police Station were frustrated, as the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) declined to record the case or arrest the excavator operators.
“The DPO instead advised the company to dialogue with the state government to resolve the matter,” he said.
Ezeh also recounted a previous incident that occurred on May 14, 2025, when the company’s Orlu District Office was allegedly targeted by another excavator sent by the authorities.
“The Management of Transpower expressed concern that these repeated incidents look like orchestrated plans to frustrate its operations, which is almost crippling electricity distribution in the state.
“The company, therefore, appealed to the Executive Governor of Imo State to urgently intervene and address the situation.
“As a critical stakeholder that shares in the developmental vision of the government of Imo State, we are committed to supporting it to actualise its goals.
“But, we must be carried along in the plan so that it will be seamless,” he added.
