By Palang Paul
Concerned Irigwe youths have demanded immediate restoration of electricity to Miango Town, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, after 11 years without power.
The youths made the demand on Tuesday, September 1st, 2026, during a press conference at the Plateau State Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)Secretariat in Jos, where they accused the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise and the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) of failing to resolve the prolonged blackout.
According to the group, Miango was disconnected from electricity supply by JEDC in 2015 over outstanding debts allegedly owed by electricity consumers in the community.
They said that before a meeting with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja in December 2016, Miango had 682 registered electricity customers, with a post-privatisation debt of N51.4 million.
The youths explained that following reconciliation and NERC intervention, the debt was reduced to N38 million as of June 2017, with the amount expected to be migrated and shared among individual metered customers in the community.
They further claimed that consumers had subsequently paid about N28 million, leaving an estimated balance of N10 million.
However, the group alleged that a committee constituted by the District Head of Miango, His Highness Daniel Chega, to mobilise residents towards settling the debt later went beyond its mandate by establishing the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise.
The company, according to the youths, subsequently entered into an arrangement with JEDC to collect electricity payments from consumers in Miango.
They alleged that JEDC suspended individual customer accounts and created a single account through which the company collected electricity payments, without obtaining the consent of the affected consumers.
The youths said residents believed the funds being collected, including donations from prominent members of the community, were being used to offset the electricity debt.
They, however, alleged that the arrangement failed to resolve the crisis and that JEDC subsequently disconnected the entire community, leaving Miango without electricity for 11 years.
The group further claimed that by May 2023, the amount allegedly owed JEDC by the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise had risen to N194.9 million.
They maintained that the community’s individual consumers were prepared to work towards settling the outstanding N10 million debt attributed to them once their electricity accounts were restored.
The youths also alleged that efforts by the paramount ruler of the Irigwe people, the Braa Nggwe Rigwe, Reverend Ronku Aka (rtd.), to resolve the crisis were unsuccessful because the committee allegedly failed to account for funds collected on behalf of the community despite several invitations.
According to them, the paramount ruler subsequently exercised his authority to dissolve the committee amid growing frustration over the prolonged blackout.
The youths said the continued absence of electricity had affected farmers, students, artisans, traders, health workers and families across Miango, with serious consequences for livelihoods, education and economic activities.
They also questioned the legality of JEDC’s decision to suspend consumers’ accounts and allow a third party to collect electricity payments on its behalf, asking whether such an arrangement was consistent with Nigeria’s electricity laws and regulations.
Their Demands
The concerned youths demanded that the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise immediately explain how it transacted with JEDC on behalf of electricity consumers in the community.
They also demanded full disclosure of all funds collected by the organisation from the time the committee was established, including details of money received, spent and allegedly used to offset the original electricity debt.
The group further called on the organisation to stop transacting with JEDC on behalf of Miango electricity consumers, citing what they described as a lack of accountability.
They equally demanded that JEDC restore all suspended consumer accounts and cease transactions with the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise concerning electricity consumers in the community.
Appeal to Mutfwang, Anti-Graft Agencies
The youths appealed to Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, to intervene in the crisis and establish an investigative committee to examine the financial activities of the Miango Community Energy Project Enterprise.
They recalled that Governor Mutfwang had publicly expressed commitment to restoring electricity to Miango during the previous year’s Irigwe Cultural Day.
The group urged the proposed investigative committee to scrutinise the organisation’s financial records, determine how funds collected from residents were utilised and establish the role allegedly played by JEDC in the arrangement.
They further called for the involvement of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the police if investigations establish evidence of wrongdoing.
The youths said they appreciated individuals, organisations and non-Irigwe communities that had supported their campaign and maintained that they remained committed to pursuing the matter through peaceful and lawful means.
They also announced plans for a peaceful protest to draw national and international attention to what they described as the injustice of keeping Miango in darkness for 11 years.
The group called on the media to amplify the plight of Miango residents and support their demand for accountability, restoration of electricity and an end to the prolonged blackout.
The statement was signed by Bitrus Adamu Izhi, Spokesman for Concerned Irigwe Youths.
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