Residents across several communities in Anambra State took to the streets this week to protest what they describe as "outrageous" electricity bills that exceed the national minimum wage, demanding urgent intervention from both the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and government authorities.
The protest, which began in Awka and spread to parts of Onitsha and Nnewi, saw hundreds of demonstrators carrying placards with messages such as “We won’t pay for darkness,” “Minimum wage is N30,000, bill is N50,000,” and “EEDC is exploiting us.”
Many residents, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, expressed frustration over estimated billing practices. “We barely have light for 5 hours a day, yet I was given a bill of N48,000 last month,” said Chinyere Okafor, a petty trader in Awka. “How can someone earning minimum wage survive this?”
The protest also drew the attention of civil society groups and community leaders, who accused the power distribution company of violating consumer rights. They called for an immediate rollout of prepaid meters to end the era of arbitrary billing.
In response, EEDC issued a statement acknowledging the residents’ concerns and attributed the high bills to a recent tariff adjustment, energy theft, and accumulated arrears. The company promised to investigate reported discrepancies and work toward a more transparent billing process.
State authorities have appealed for calm and pledged to mediate between the residents and EEDC.
“No citizen should pay more for electricity than they earn monthly,” said a spokesperson for the Anambra State Ministry of Public Utilities. “We will engage with the relevant agencies to ensure fairness and justice.”
As of now, the protests have remained peaceful, but organizers say they will escalate their action if no concrete steps are taken within the coming weeks.
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