Odita Sunday 
HURIWA Faults Governor Uzodinma Over Power Supply, Says Imo Residents Remain in Darkness
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused the Imo State Government of failing to fulfill its promise of uninterrupted electricity, stating that residents continue to face severe power outages despite official assurances.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, the rights group described Governor Hope Uzodinma’s earlier pledge of 24-hour electricity as a “phantom promise.” HURIWA noted that the lack of stable power has significantly worsened economic hardships for families and small businesses across the state.
According to HURIWA, only about 15 percent of Imo residents can afford alternative power sources such as solar installations or fuel-powered generators. The group’s findings from the 2025 Christmas season across the Owerri, Orlu, and Okigwe zones revealed a heavy financial burden on citizens.
Returning indigenes reportedly spent an average of ₦250,000 on fuel during the festive period, while others invested upwards of ₦3 million for private solar systems. The association lamented that marginalized residents were left in total darkness, unable to afford these high costs.
The erratic power supply has reportedly forced many small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), including restaurants, barbing salons, and provision stores, out of business. HURIWA also expressed concern over the environmental and health risks posed by the heavy reliance on generators in the hospitality sector, citing increased pollution levels in urban centers like Owerri.
HURIWA recalled the Governor’s October announcement that the Urashi Power Plant Project would facilitate uninterrupted power starting in November, beginning with the Owerri metropolis. While the administration also announced social welfare initiatives like tax exemptions and free transportation, the rights group insists that the core issue of energy remains unaddressed.
While acknowledging the administration’s efforts toward infrastructure and the reinvigoration of the Imo State vigilante group, HURIWA raised concerns over lingering security challenges in rural areas. The group called for:
- The reconstruction of police stations destroyed during past unrest.
- Strict legislative oversight of the state’s vigilante groups by the House of Assembly.
- The establishment of an independent human rights monitoring commission to prevent abuses by local security actors.
HURIWA concluded by challenging the Imo State Government to match its rhetoric with concrete action, emphasizing that transparency and improved living conditions are essential to restoring public confidence in the current administration.
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