No less than 23 communities in Imo state have remained in blackout following a fire incident at a major transmission facility in the suburb of Owerri, the Imo state capital.

The fire incident which occurred in the early part of May 2024 left a transformer and some cables destroyed, having lasted for over four days, according to eyewitness accounts.

Fire fighters reportedly endeavored to quench the inferno but were largely unsuccessful as the electricity installations located at Azara Egbelu, Owerri North Council area of Imo state, was reduced to rubbles.

The affected communities include Ezeogba, Ezedibia, Okwu Emeke, Akalovo, Umuakuru, Azara-Owalla, Azara-Egbelu, Ubowala, Uboegbelu and Umuocham – all in Emekuku town, Owerri North LGA.

Others are Emeoha, Eziala, Mgbahiri, Nkepho, Ubah, Umuawuka, Umudulu, Umuebe, Umuolu and Umuorisha – all in Emii town, Owerri North LGA.

Also affected are the Amuzi, Ndegbelu and Umuodu villages , all domiciled in Awaka ancient town, Owerri North LGA, whose electric power supply is sourced from the Azara-Egbelu transformer.

Businesses have crumbled and and life in these areas has become increasingly difficult as business owners have had to resort to the use of diesel and others fuels to power generators and keep businesses running.

This has thus increased the prices of essential goods and services as sellers struggle to recover their capital and make some profit amidst rising inflation and other economic concerns.

Homes have also been at the receiving end of the travail as families now have to spend more on cooking gas rather than resort to electric appliances as an alternative to gas burners.

Furthermore, families spend a lot of their lean resources to power gasoline generators for the preservation of cooked food and provision of lighting for the home.

Capital intensive businesses have been forced to leave the area resulting in paucity of essential services and high costs of existing ones.

C- Advocate therefore calls on government at all levels, representatives of Owerri North at the State and National Assemblies as well as the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), the disco charged with the generation and distribution of electric power in Imo state to step up efforts to restore supply to these communities.

This will not only affect the survival of businesses but also impact the psyche of Nigerians resident in this part of Imo state,  while improving their overall output.