Ehugbo Electricity Debacle – Afikpo is the anglicized version of Ehugbo. It’s one of the local government areas of Ebonyi State located at the southern axis of the state. There are four clans that make up the Afikpo local government area. They’re: Ehugbo, Amasiri, Akpoha & Unwana with Ehugbo as the urban centre of the Afikpo LGA.
Ehugbo clan has five communities: Itim, Ugwuegu, Ozziza, Nkpoghoro & Ohaisu which all have villages under them. Ehugbo is also the political powerhouse of the Afikpo LGA and the second urban settlement in the state after Abakaliki. It’s the second economic zone in the state and hosting notable institutions of learning and federal & state institutions. Some of the political personalities alive from Ehugbo include the current deputy governor of Ebonyi State, Princess P. O Obila, 3rd term member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Barr Idu Igariwe, former President General of OHANEZE NDIGBO, Chief Gary Igariwe, and the two serving members of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly: Kingsley Ikoro & Ukie Ezeali.
One striking incident making incomplete the infrastructural development of Ehugbo is the lingering blackout in the entire Ehugbo for 15 years till now, grinding the economy of the inhabitants of the clan. This all-important place should not have been without electricity for as long as 15 years due to collapse of the power station that links it to Abakaliki power source. The inhabitants have been groaning in losses & inflation caused by this blackout. I call on the Ebonyi State Government to wade into the matter of facilitating a new power station that will give light to Ehugbo as private individuals or the community isn’t allowed to build one. Power station and other incentives that hold the return of electricity to Ehugbo should be paid attention to by the Government of Ebonyi and get reimbursement from the Federal Government or the power holding company in charge of the South East if that is the case, after all, Ebonyi State Government constructs federal roads and get reimbursed afterwards.
Whatever should be done to return light to Ehugbo should start now! It’s only government that can return light to Ehugbo. If it were to be a problem private individuals or the community could solve, it would not have lingered up to 15 years. Gov. Francis Nwifuru should wade into this case and rescue the people of Ehugbo at this dire point in time as banks and businesses in the area are folding on a daily basis as diesel and fuel costs to run generators are on the high side.
See also: Alike Town: A Key Community in Ebonyi State
Sources: NCN
