The Obi-in-Council of Onitsha Kingdom and the management of FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company have inaugurated a Joint Action Committee to tackle electricity theft, meter bypass, meter tampering, bill default and other illegal practices undermining efficient power supply in Onitsha and surrounding communities.
The committee was inaugurated during a follow-up meeting held at the palace of the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, as part of efforts to implement resolutions reached at an earlier stakeholders’ engagement on improving electricity service delivery.
The meeting brought together the revered monarch, principal members of the Obi-in-Council and the management of FirstPower, all of whom reaffirmed their commitment to promoting customer compliance, network efficiency and reliable electricity supply across Onitsha Inland Town and neighbouring communities.
Speaking on behalf of the Palace, the Odu Osodi Nkataukwu of Onitsha, Chief Albert Okechukwu Ibekwe, said the committee would coordinate community-based interventions, public enlightenment campaigns and enforcement measures aimed at curbing electricity-related offences.
According to him, the committee comprises representatives of the Palace, the community and FirstPower, and will serve as a platform for continuous engagement, monitoring and prompt resolution of electricity challenges affecting the kingdom.
In his remarks, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, commended FirstPower for fulfilling its earlier commitments and for the noticeable improvement in electricity supply being experienced in parts of the community.
The monarch reaffirmed the Palace’s readiness to collaborate with the electricity distribution company to ensure better service delivery and sustainable power supply for residents.
Igwe Achebe strongly condemned electricity theft, meter bypass, meter tampering and the non-payment of electricity bills, describing such acts as unacceptable and harmful to the development of the community.
He stressed that individuals who deliberately engage in electricity theft should be treated as criminals, insisting that such practices undermine efforts to improve power supply.
The traditional ruler also urged residents to appreciate the economic realities of electricity distribution, noting that rising operational costs make periodic tariff adjustments inevitable, just as the prices of other essential goods and services continue to increase.
The Joint Action Committee is expected to strengthen collaboration between the community and FirstPower while promoting responsible electricity consumption and improving service delivery across the Onitsha Kingdom.
