The South East Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA) has called on governors of the zone to prioritise electricity generation.

The group said it was the fastest pathway to achieving industrial revolution even as it revealed that businesses in the region had lost over N28 billion in the last three months because of power shortages.

Coordinator of SEECA, Dr. Sebastine Okafor, made the disclosure in Enugu while addressing the incessant electricity shortages that have affected the South East in recent months.

He said the situation has caused severe hardship for electricity consumers in the zone.

Okafor stressed that the epileptic power supply has crippled many businesses, especially during the yuletide when commercial activities usually peak.

Absolving electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in the zone of blame, he argued that the electricity value chain is complex. He explained that the DisCos cannot distribute power they did not receive.

Okafor further said the South East was already disadvantaged in power distribution, as the zone receives only about seven per cent of the total electricity generated in the country.

“Electricity is the backbone of every modern economy. When power is unstable, industries suffer, jobs are lost, and people remain poor. In the South East, today, small businesses are closing daily because they cannot afford generators and diesel. Our people are paying for darkness with their sweat and savings.

“You cannot blame the DisCos alone when they receive very little power to share. If the government invests in power generation within the zone, factories will return, artisans will work better, and young people will find jobs. Stable electricity will reduce poverty faster than any policy statement.”

The university also questioned why South East governors continue to concentrate more on electricity distribution rather than generation, describing the approach as anti-people and anti-progress. He argued that focusing on distribution without sufficient generation only spreads scarcity and deepens frustration among consumers.

He said the South East has enough human capital, gas resources, and private investors willing to partner in power generation projects if governments show commitment.

“Investing in independent power plants would reduce dependence on the national grid, boost industrial growth, and place the region on a sustainable path to economic self-reliance.” (The Sun)