By Abdul-Kadir Abdullah
The Forum for Commissioners of Power and Energy in Nigeria (FOCPEN) has strongly condemned the deliberate reduction of electricity supply to Enugu State by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), describing the act as a “dangerous precedent of lawlessness” and a declaration of war on the people of the state.
In a press release jointly signed by Prince Eka Williams, Commissioner of Power and Renewable Energy, Cross River State and Chairman of FOCPEN, and Engr. Mohammed Ihiezue Abdulmutalib, Commissioner of Rural and Energy Development and Acting Secretary of FOCPEN, the forum expressed deep concern over what it termed an “arbitrary disconnection” of power by EEDC, following a recent regulatory tariff adjustment.
According to FOCPEN, EEDC reportedly slashed power supply to the Enugu electricity market by up to 50%, after the Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission issued a new tariff order to EEDC’s subsidiary, MainPower Electricity Distribution Ltd., reducing Band A electricity rates from ₦209/kwh to ₦160/kwh effective August 1, 2025.
The forum condemned the move, asserting that EEDC’s action goes beyond a regulatory dispute and amounts to “blackmail” and an act of war against the good people of Enugu State.
The statement reads, “This is not just a power supply issue. It is a deliberate act of lawlessness and an affront to the people of Enugu State,”
FOCPEN argued that if EEDC or its subsidiary believed the new tariff was inadequate, it should have followed legal and regulatory channels for redress rather than resorting to punitive power cuts.
The forum stated, “This reckless action is a grave violation of EEDC’s license obligations and a disturbing abuse of the privatized electricity framework,”
The group warned that the incident poses a serious threat to consumer rights and undermines the country’s transition to State Electricity Markets (SEMs), as enshrined in the Electricity Act 2023.
It further raised alarm over the market power wielded by Distribution Companies (DisCos), warning that such unchecked influence could derail decentralization efforts and embolden other DisCos to adopt similar strong-arm tactics.
In response to the crisis, FOCPEN issued a three-point demand:
First, the forum called on the Hon. Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, to intervene urgently and compel both NERC and EEDC to restore full electricity supply to Enugu State. The Minister, FOCPEN said, must take decisive action to halt what it described as the “lawlessness of DisCos.”
Secondly, FOCPEN urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to develop new regulations that allow Sub-National Electricity Distribution Companies (SubCos) to directly procure power from GenCos through bilateral contracts, thereby bypassing the current dependence on DisCo HoldCos. They described the current model as anti-competitive and prone to abuse.
Thirdly, the group demanded regulatory sanctions against EEDC, stating that NERC must prove its ability to regulate and protect consumers by penalizing what it called “the tyranny” of DisCo HoldCos.
FOCPEN affirming its solidarity with the people of Enugu State has vowed to monitor the situation closely and warned, “FOCPEN will not hesitate to take further action to protect the rights of consumers within State Electricity Markets,”
The development has drawn sharp criticism from energy stakeholders and civil society groups who see it as a test case for the enforcement of the new Electricity Act and the autonomy of sub-national electricity regulators.
As tensions mount, all eyes are now on NERC, the Ministry of Power, and the federal government to resolve what could become a flashpoint in Nigeria’s evolving electricity sector.
