Concerned Irigwe youths in Miango, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, have called for urgent intervention to end what they described as an unacceptable 11-year electricity blackout in the community.
The youths made the demand on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, during a press conference held at the Plateau State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Jos.
Addressing journalists, spokesman of the group, Bitrus Adamu Izhi, said Miango had remained without electricity since 2015, following the disconnection of the community by the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) over outstanding electricity debts.
According to him, the prolonged blackout has severely affected the socio-economic life of the community, with farmers, students, artisans, traders, health workers and families bearing the consequences.
Izhi said that before a meeting with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja in December 2016, Miango had 682 registered electricity customers, while the outstanding post-privatisation debt stood at N51,418,095.27.
He explained that following reconciliation and intervention by NERC, the debt was reduced to N38 million as of June 2017, with the amount directed to be migrated and shared among metered individual customers in the community.
The youths claimed that consumers had subsequently remitted about N28 million, leaving a balance of approximately N10 million.
They, however, expressed concern over the emergence of the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise, which they alleged was established without the knowledge or consent of electricity consumers in the community.
The group said the initiative emerged after the District Head of Miango, His Highness Daniel Chega, constituted a committee to mobilise residents towards settling the outstanding electricity debt.
According to the youths, the committee allegedly went beyond its mandate by establishing and registering the company, with Mr. Williams Chatalas as chairman.
Other officials named by the group were Mr. John Willy Iche, Secretary; Mr. Haruna Jibo, Financial Secretary; and Pastor Emmanuel Benedict Zamfara, Treasurer.
The group alleged that the company subsequently entered into an arrangement with JEDC to collect electricity-related payments from consumers in Miango.
It further alleged that JEDC unilaterally suspended the individual accounts of consumers and created a single account through which the intermediary company collected payments from residents.
The youths said residents initially believed that the money being collected, including funds raised through donations from concerned indigenes, was being used to offset the community's electricity debt.
They alleged, however, that the arrangement failed to resolve the situation and that the entire community subsequently remained disconnected from the electricity supply.
The group further claimed that as of May 2023, the amount allegedly owed JEDC by the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise stood at N194,912,366.86.
The concerned youths therefore urged JEDC to explore mechanisms for recovering whatever debt it claims from the intermediary company, while allowing individual Miango consumers to settle the outstanding N10 million balance previously attributed to them once their accounts are restored.
The youths also alleged that efforts by the paramount ruler of Rigwe land, the Braa Nggwe Rigwe, Reverend Ronku Aka (rtd.), to resolve the matter were unsuccessful, accusing the committee of failing to provide an account of funds collected despite several invitations.
According to the group, the paramount ruler eventually exercised his authority to dissolve the committee following growing frustration over the situation.
The youths questioned the legality and propriety of the alleged arrangement between JEDC and the community-based company.
They asked whether JEDC had the legal authority to suspend individual customers' accounts and transfer or subcontract the collection of electricity bills to a third party without the consumers' consent, and whether such an arrangement is consistent with Nigeria's electricity regulatory framework.
FOUR KEY DEMANDS
The concerned Irigwe youths demanded that the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise provide a comprehensive explanation of its transactions with JEDC on behalf of electricity consumers in Miango.
They also demanded full disclosure of all funds collected by the organisation from its inception as a committee and subsequently as a registered company, including details of money received, expenditures and payments allegedly made towards the electricity debt.
The group further called on the organisation to stop representing or transacting with JEDC on behalf of Miango electricity consumers, citing what it described as a lack of accountability.
The youths also demanded that JEDC immediately restore all suspended consumer accounts and discontinue transactions with the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise in respect of individual Miango electricity consumers.
CALL FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION
The group appealed to Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, to intervene urgently in the matter.
Izhi recalled that the governor had publicly expressed his commitment to restoring electricity to Miango during the previous year's annual Irigwe Cultural Day.
The youths therefore urged the governor to constitute an independent investigative committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the 11-year blackout, scrutinise the financial records of the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise and determine whether any individual or organisation should be held accountable.
They also called for an investigation into the role allegedly played by JEDC in the establishment of the intermediary arrangement.
The group said that where wrongdoing is established, appropriate anti-corruption and law-enforcement agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigeria Police Force, should investigate and prosecute anyone found culpable.
PEACEFUL PROTEST PLANNED
The concerned youths also announced plans to stage a peaceful protest as part of their ongoing advocacy for the restoration of electricity in Miango.
They said the protest would be aimed at drawing public attention to the community's plight and demanding clarity, accountability and the restoration of normal electricity services.
The group expressed appreciation to individuals, organisations and non-Irigwe communities that had supported their campaign, stressing that their advocacy would remain within the bounds of peace and due process.
They also commended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Honourable Bernard Doro, and other stakeholders in Rigwe land for their efforts towards finding a solution to the crisis.
The youths, however, warned prominent personalities who had remained silent on the matter that their actions or inactions would be remembered by the people.
The spokesman said the group was relying on the media to amplify the voice of the affected community and help bring an end to what they described as 11 years of darkness and deprivation.
“We invite the press, which has proven over time to be on the side of truth and justice, to lend us a voice in this struggle to liberate our people from darkness,” Izhi said.
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