Concerned Irigwe youths have called for an investigation into the alleged ₦194.9 million debt owed the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) by the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise, following 11 years of electricity blackout in Miango, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Speaking on behalf of the youths at a press conference at the Plateau State NUJ Secretariat, Jos, on Tuesday, their spokesman, Bitrus Adamu Izhi, also demanded full disclosure of funds collected by the community energy company and details of how the money was spent.
Izhi said Miango was disconnected from electricity supply by JEDC in 2015 over debts allegedly owed by consumers.
He said that before a meeting with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja in December 2016, the registered customer population in Miango stood at 682, while the outstanding post-privatisation debt was ₦51,418,095.27.
According to him, following reconciliation, the debt was reduced to ₦38 million as of June 2017.
Izhi said NERC subsequently directed that the ₦38 million debt be migrated and shared among individual metered customers in Miango.
He said consumers had remitted ₦28 million, leaving a balance of ₦10 million.
The spokesman said further efforts to settle the debt led the District Head of Miango to constitute a committee to mobilise the people towards raising funds to clear the outstanding amount.
However, Izhi alleged that the committee went beyond its mandate and established and registered the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise, with Mr Williams Chatalas as chairman.
He said the company subsequently entered into an arrangement with JEDC to collect electricity payments from consumers in Miango.
“JEDC then unilaterally, without knowledge or consent of the consumers, suspended their accounts and registered a single account through which the intermediary company began collecting electricity bills from consumers in Miango,” Izhi alleged.
He said community members assumed that funds paid by consumers, as well as donations from concerned indigenes, were being used to offset the electricity debt.
“Sadly, this was not so, and JEDC then decided to disconnect the entire town,” he said.
Izhi said the disconnection had persisted for 11 years, while efforts to obtain explanations from the committee had failed.
He alleged that as of May 2023, the total amount owed JEDC by the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise was ₦194,912,366.86.
Izhi advised JEDC to find a way of recovering the alleged debt from the company, assuring that Miango consumers would work towards offsetting the remaining ₦10 million they owed once their accounts were restored.
He also alleged that efforts by the paramount ruler of Rigweland, the Braa Nggwe Rigwe, Rev. Ronku Aka (rtd.), to resolve the crisis failed because the committee did not account for funds it collected on behalf of the people despite several invitations.
“Worried by the growing frustration in the land and the committee’s attitude, the paramount ruler used veto to dissolve it,” Izhi said.
The spokesman appealed to Governor Caleb Mutfwang to intervene in the matter and constitute an investigative committee to compel the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise to open its books for scrutiny.
He said the committee should establish how much the company collected from the people and determine how the funds were utilised.
Izhi also called for an investigation into the role allegedly played by JEDC in the establishment of the company and its arrangement to collect electricity payments from Miango consumers.
He further urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the police to take appropriate action against anyone found culpable.
The youths also demanded that the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise stop transacting with JEDC on behalf of Miango electricity consumers, while JEDC should restore the suspended consumer accounts and cease dealings with the company in respect of the community.
Izhi said the youths would stage a peaceful protest to draw attention to the prolonged blackout and demand accountability, restoration of electricity supply and an end to what they described as 11 years of darkness.
