•The protesting workers
Scores of workers of the Imo Transport Company (ITC), at the weekend disrupted socio-economic activities in Owerri, protesting what they described as “excessive and unfair monthly estimated billing” given to them by the Transpower Electricity Distribution Company Limited.
The protest which took place at the operational base of the company in Owerri, capital of Imo State, drew the attention of some residents, motorists, commuters, workers and businessmen among others, reports Sunday Guardian.
According to the protesters, in March this year, the electricity company issued them N334,941, while they got an estimated bill of N637,343 for the month of April 2026, alleging that despite irregular power, they were issued huge bills, despite that they “receive irregular power supply.’ They demanded that the bills already issued should be reviewed downwards, and henceforth be billed at lower rate.
They appealed to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Imo State Government to quickly step in and investigate the billing system used by the electricity distribution company, urging transparency in electricity charges.
The protesters carried placards bearing various inscriptions on them, such as, “Stop Estimated Billing,” “Consumers Need Protection,” and “Stable Power, Fair Billing. EEDC/ Transpower Electric, pls don’t kill ITC with outrageous bills from over N300,000 to over N600,000 monthly, it is wickedness. We say no to high bills.”
Fielding questions from some journalists, a senior official of the transport company, Onyeka Ononaobi, regretted that the bills issued to the company were placing heavy pressure on what the company could carry, lamenting low patronage of passengers, high fuel pump prices, inflation, maintenance costs, describing the bills as “unsustainable and unfair.”
“We provide transport services to ordinary Nigerians. When operational costs continue to rise because of issues like this, it is the public that ultimately suffers,” Ononaobi decried.
Some sympathisers who spoke wondered the rate of electricity billing in the state, lamenting their similar ordeals at their homes and business outlets with “unstable power supply.”
Reacting yesterday evening, the Head, Communications, Transpower Electricity Distribution Company Limited, Francis Akujobi, said he was hearing the information for the first time, promising to get in touch with the management before issuing an official statement on that.
“I will get to the management, next week, hear from them, and I will give you feedback on that,” Akujobi stated.
