Ibe Osonwa (Labour Party-Abia) has petitioned the National Assembly, seeking explanations as to why some communities in the Ohafia LGA have been denied power supply for five years.

The legislator said despite the five-year blackout, exorbitant bills of N2.1 billion were presented to the affected communities.

Mr Osonwa, in a petition he submitted to the House of Representatives in Abuja on Friday, said that the communities were seeking an explanation on how they accumulated a bill of N2.1 billion despite not having a power supply for five years.

According to him, several attempts have been made towards the amicable resolution of the lingering issues occasioned by the perpetual darkness in the affected communities, but to no avail.

He said it was not achieved despite efforts made by Deputy Governor Ikechukwu Emetu of Abia, who is from the affected area, to ensure that the communities celebrate Christmas with power.

“The EEDC claimed that one of the lingering issues is alleged vandalism, which the governor and his deputy have agreed to resolve,” noted the legislator. 

Mr Osonwa added, “What they are telling us is that we should pay the money and they will give us power. But we are telling them to supply us with power, then we resolve the so-called outstanding debt.”

He said that the estimated bill presented to the communities by EEDC was unjustified and unwarranted, pointing out that his father, who died nearly three years ago, was presented with an outstanding debt of N600,000. 

(NAN)