‘South-East losing billions of Naira to electricity crisis’ – SEECA charges govs on generation

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With the power crisis in Nigeria worsening, the South East Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA) has urged regional governors to focus more on electricity generation.

This is as it was mourned that residents were losing billions of Naira due to an unreliable power supply.

SEECA, representing electricity consumers in the South East, stated that this was the quickest way to realize the industrial revolution sought by the area.

During a conversation with reporters in Enugu over the weekend, Dr. Sebastine Chukwuebuka Okafor, the coordinator of SEECA, shared this information.

He was focusing on the ongoing electricity shortages in the South East over the past few months, which were mainly caused by issues with power generation on the national grid.

He indicated that the circumstances had resulted in considerable difficulties for electricity users in the area, with losses approximated to exceed N28 billion over a three-month period.

He claims that the unreliable electricity supply has devastated numerous businesses, particularly during the Christmas season when trade is at its highest.

Okafor suggested that electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in the area should not bear full responsibility, emphasizing the complexity of the electricity value chain and noting that DisCos cannot distribute power they do not receive.

He remarked that the South East was already at a disadvantage regarding power distribution, as it receives only around seven percent of the total electricity produced nationwide.

“Electricity is the backbone of every modern economy. When power is unstable, industries suffer, jobs are lost, and people remain poor.

“In the South East today, small businesses are closing daily because they cannot afford generators and diesel. Our people are paying for darkness with their sweat and savings.

“You cannot blame the DisCos alone when they receive very little power to share.

“If the government invests in power generation within the zone, factories will return, artisans will work better, and young people will find jobs. Stable electricity will reduce poverty faster than any policy statement.”

The don also inquired why governors of the South East focus more on electricity distribution than generation, labeling this approach as anti-people and anti-progress.

He contended that an emphasis on distribution in the absence of adequate generation merely disseminates scarcity and exacerbates consumer frustration.

He stated that the South East possesses sufficient human capital, gas resources, and private investors eager to collaborate on power generation projects, provided that governments demonstrate commitment.

“Investing in independent power plants would reduce dependence on the national grid, boost industrial growth, and place the region on a sustainable path to economic self-reliance,” he further stated.

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