Irigwe Youths Appeals To Gov. Mutfwang To End Their 11 Years Of Blackout

By Girma Grace Samuel, Marina Dajang, Grace Izam, Simi Joseph Tiri.

Concerned Irigwe Youths have appealed to Governor Caleb Mutfwang to intervene in the electricity crisis in their community so as to end their over eleven (11) years of power blackout, stating that they need justice, clarity, and accountability.

The group made the call today, in a press conference, held at the Press Centre Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) Secretariat, Jos, Plateau state.

The spokesperson, Mr. Bitrus Adamu Izhi said in line with the commitment made by the Governor during their cultural festival, “we plead for urgent government intervention through the formation of an investigative committee to compel the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise to open its books for scrutiny and where it is found culpable, be made to account for all it collected from the people.

According to them, it is a well known fact that electricity has become a necessity in every society and no people can develop without this all important infrastructure, but Miango town in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau state have stayed without light for 11 years.

Narrating the incident that led to the black out, Mr. Izhi said In 2015, light was disconnected in Miango community because of the outstanding debt owed by the light consumers in the community. The debt was reduced and the total balance outstanding was 10 million naira.

“And in other to raise the 10 million Naira, the District Head of Miango, His Highness, Mr. Daniel Chega, constituted a committee with a mandate to galvanize the people towards avenues through which the money could be paid.

“However, as soon as it commenced function, the committee went outside its mandate and chose to establish and register a company with the name Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise with one Mr Williams Chatalas as chairman. Other members of the board are: Mr John Willy Iche, Secretary

Mr Haruna Jibo, Financial Secretary

Pastor Emmanuel Benedict Zamfara, Treasurer.

“This company which was birthed without knowledge or consent of the consumers went ahead to effect an arrangement with JEDC as the sole agent to be mopping up its funds from consumers.

“To achieve this, 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.

“Members of the community assumed all funds earlier paid and those raised through donations from concerned illustrious sons of the land were being used to offset the debt. Sadly, this was not so, and JEDC then decided to disconnect the entire town.

“This disconnection has lingered for 11 years and every attempt to seek answers from the committee failed. As at may 2023, the total amount owed JEDC by the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise is 194,912,366,86 Naira.

“As such, we advice it should find a way of recovering this debt while the Miango consumers will work on offsetting the 10 million Naira they owe as soon as their accounts are restored.

“It should be noted that efforts by the paramount ruler, His Royal Highness, the Braa Nggwe Rigwe Reverend Ronku Aka rtd, could not yield results as the committee failed to give an account of 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 his veto power to dissolve it.”

While acknowledging the fact that their plight was self-inflicted given that it was their own people who threw them into darkness for the past 11 years, the group called on the Governor to wade in, stating that immediate measures should be taken by Plateau state Government to fish out those guilty of betraying the trust of the poor, vulnerable and innocent people and hand them over to EFCC, ICPC, and the Police for prosecution.

He added that in line with their demand for justice, the Iregwe Youths under the leadership of Mr. Francis Sambo decided to hold the peaceful protest in order to draw attention to their plight.