Residents of Afikpo, a historic city in Ebonyi State’s Afikpo Local Government Area, have endured a decade without public electricity, following their disconnection from the national grid. This prolonged blackout has severely impacted the local economy, causing significant hardship for the people.
Afikpo first received electricity in 1976, and the small population at the time enjoyed a stable power supply. However, as the population grew, the aging infrastructure could not keep up, leading to frequent power failures. In 2011, in response to the worsening situation, then-Senator Anyim Ude initiated the construction of a 133KVA substation in Amasiri, near Afikpo, to provide a lasting solution for the town and the wider Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone, where many communities face similar power challenges.
Despite this effort, progress on the substation has been slow, and the existing power infrastructure collapsed about ten years ago, plunging Afikpo and neighboring areas, including Edda Local Government, into complete darkness. The power outage has not only crippled the local economy but also led to an increase in criminal activities, with vandals stealing high-tension cables and other electrical components, further complicating the restoration of power.
Afikpo, the second-largest urban center in Ebonyi State after the capital Abakaliki, has experienced a sharp decline due to the power outage. The lack of electricity has driven businesses to close, leading to widespread unemployment and poverty. Lawmaker Ukie Ezeali, who represents Afikpo East State Constituency, revealed that he spends over N3 million on fuel to power his businesses. He lamented that many other businesses have shut down due to the high cost of running generators, exacerbating the area’s economic woes.
Ezeali highlighted the adverse effects on education, with students unable to study at night, and on security, as criminals take advantage of the darkness to carry out their activities. He expressed frustration over the slow progress on the Amasiri substation, which remains incomplete more than a decade after construction began.
In February, Governor Francis Nwifuru, acting on a memo from Ezeali, approved N208 million for the refurbishment of transformers and other necessary work to temporarily restore power using high-voltage lines from Nkalagu. However, six months later, the project has been mired in controversy. Ezeali accused the Ministry of Power of mishandling the funds and failing to complete the necessary repairs. He also alleged that the Ministry diverted the funds meant for the project, leaving Afikpo and its surrounding areas in continued darkness.
In response, Commissioner for Power Peter Ogeali denied the allegations, claiming that Ezeali’s grievances stemmed from not being awarded the contract for the project. Ogeali asserted that the Ministry selected qualified contractors to ensure the work was done correctly and accused Ezeali of trying to undermine the project for personal gain.
The Ministry explained that delays in power restoration were due to the relocation of high-voltage lines between Nkalagu and Ntezi, along with vandalism of the network in the Okposi area. The government has reportedly approved variations to the contract to address these issues and complete the substation by the end of the year.
As the situation drags on, the Ebonyi State Executive Council has stepped in, reassuring the public that the project is nearing completion and awaiting connection to the national grid. They urged the Federal Government and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to expedite the final stages of the substation to prevent further economic decline in Afikpo.
Meanwhile, the Afikpo community has appealed to the Federal Government and TCN to prioritize the completion of the Amasiri substation, emphasizing the urgent need to restore power and revive the local economy. The community expressed gratitude to Governor Nwifuru for his efforts but called for more decisive action to ensure the project’s completion by year’s end.
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