…Transpower recalled that on May 14, an excavator sent by the Imo Government demolished property and equipment at the company’s Orlu District Office.
OWERRI, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | Tensions are rising in Imo State following strong allegations by Transpower Electricity Distribution Limited (TEDL), a subsidiary of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), accusing contractors linked to the state government of destroying its power infrastructure without prior notice or coordination.
In a statement released on Tuesday by EEDC’s Group Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, the company decried what it described as a pattern of indiscriminate damage to its electricity distribution equipment, a situation it warns could cripple power supply across large parts of the state.
According to Ezeh, the ongoing destruction of both Low Tension (LT) and High Tension (HT) poles, as well as transformers serving multiple communities, has thrown many residents into darkness.
“We are not against the state government carrying out developmental projects,” Ezeh said. “But we are concerned with the continued destruction of our facilities without recourse to the company. These actions have severe implications on our operations and the people we serve.”
He noted that the most recent incident occurred on August 30, 2025, in Orlu, where six HT poles supplying power to Mgbee, Ogboko, Omuma Isiaku, and Ugbelle were allegedly destroyed by excavator operators reclaiming land on behalf of the state government.
“This led to the tripping of the Orlu 33KV line on earth fault and left thousands of customers without power,” Ezeh added.
The company said it reported the development to the Chairman of Orlu Local Government, who acknowledged the project as a state government initiative and promised to escalate the matter. However, attempts to lodge a formal complaint at the Orlu Police Station were reportedly rebuffed.
“The DPO declined to record the case or arrest the excavator operators,” Ezeh stated. “He told our team that he cannot use his office to fight the state government, and instead advised that we resolve the matter through dialogue.”
Transpower further recalled that a similar incident occurred on May 14, 2025, when an excavator allegedly sent by the Imo State Government demolished property and equipment at the company’s Orlu District Office.
The management has expressed concern that these repeated incidents appear to be deliberate, pointing to what it described as an “orchestrated plan” to frustrate and possibly sabotage its operations in the state.
“As a critical stakeholder that shares in the developmental vision of the Imo State Government, we are committed to supporting its goals,” the company emphasized. “However, we must be carried along in a coordinated and safe manner. The current approach is reckless and dangerous.”
The company has called on Governor Hope Uzodimma to urgently intervene and ensure such actions are halted, stressing that power distribution in Imo State is now at serious risk.
As of the time of filing this report, the Imo State Government has not issued any official response to the allegations.
