The unprecedented increase in electricity bill recorded in some parts of Umuahia, the Abia State Capital drew the ire of residents this Thursday (14/8/25) as they matched to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, (EEDC) Office in the city to vent out their anger.
The demonstrators comprising residents of the World Bank Housing Estate marched over three kilometres, chanting unpalatable songs, indicating their rejection of the outrageous bills that saw an increase of over 400% and warned against disconnecting them.
The incensed residents carried placards some of which read: World Bank cries: Power bills are higher than rents; Estimated billing is illegal and criminal; We cannot jump from N8000 to be paying N47,000 among others.
Presenting their grievances before the EEDC Operations manager, Engineer Amaga, the Acting Chair World Bank Housing Estate residents Association, Kalu Florence described the electricity bill for July as not only outrageous but inhuman and exploitative and called for immediate downward review.
Kalu who revealed that they had written several letters of complaint to no avail, pointed out that it was unimaginable to see someone that was paying N8,000 to be handed over a N47,000 and wondered how a public servant with less than N80,000 would survive such a wicked Increment based on estimated billing.
Baring their minds, other residents who spoke called on EEDC to ensure that residents were not disconnected, warning that they may be forced to take actions that may not be palatable.
They further called on the State government to intervene in order to stop further exploitation of the people in the presence of the current biting economy.
In his reaction, the Operations Manager, Engineer Amaga sued for dialogue in order to resolve the matter and later went into a closed door session with the group’s Representatives.
Hanto Daily News reports that after over three hours of meeting, no concrete positive agreement was reached.
However, deliberations are expected to resume Thursday evening as the people insist that they will not pay the outrageous bill.
