Interested in the agreement between Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, and Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ONICCIMA), for a 24 hour power supply to the State, the later has demanded from the former, details of the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, signed between the duo.
Recall that the Governor was said to have on March 25, signed an MoU between the state government and Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), to ensure that power supply in the state is available 24 hours.
The ONICCIMA President, Chief Kevin Obieri, made the demand stating that the chamber was concerned that there was no detailed information regarding the MoU and its broad implications for the business community in Onitsha and the entire state.
According to him there was no information on when the partnership would commence and whether the projections were in a month, a year’s time or towards the end of the administration’s tenure.
His words, “While the chamber continues to support Gov. Soludo’s developmental strides in the state, we strongly feel that the government should do well to sensitise the business community to the MoU.
“Beyond payment of bills by users, are there other cost implications? If any, will the cost be borne by the state or wholly transferred to the public or subsidized?
“If the cost is to be borne by the state, what are the implications to the state’s finances, especially as the nation is currently grappling with record inflation?
“With a struggling economy, businesses trying to stay afloat and people living on a knife’s edge, it will help that people are aware of the full details of the MoU, so that necessary adjustments can be made, ” Obieri stated.
He added further that as of March 21, the total National Power Generation was 4,670 megawatts, out of which 365 megawatts was assigned to EEDC which provides distribution for the whole of the Southeast.
Hear him, “The obvious question then is, how feasible is the provision of 24/7 electricity when the allocation to EEDC is quite minute to satisfy the whole of Southeast?
“Even experts have insisted that Southeast requires a minimum of 10,000 megawatts of electricity for a steady power supply.
“More critical is that EEDC is only a distribution company, not a generation company and can only distribute what is released to it by the GENCOS.
“They cannot control or guarantee a 24/7 power supply. These are many questions begging for answers here,” he said.
He maintained that a steady electricity supply in Anambra was the single most critical factor to kick-start and galvanize the much publicised industrialisation of the state, pointing out that steady electricity will transform the economic equation of businesses and boost the disposable income of the citizenry while propelling the revenue generation capacity of the state.
“This is why every pronouncement regarding achieving this laudable aim must be well considered while any impediment to the realization of this objective must be addressed quickly.
“To this end, the business community as well as the general public await to hear a well-articulated process-flow and details of the MoU signed on their behalf to dispel needless speculations and rumours.
He expressed optimism that the state government, through the relevant ministries, will expand its sensitisation and awareness campaign on this critical agreement.
