By Izunna Okafor, Awka
As part of its ongoing strategic engagement with its top Maximum Demand (MD) customers, the Management of FirstPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited on Thursday paid a working visit to Onitsha Mall, one of the state’s foremost commercial hubs housing ShopRite and several other businesses, to strengthen partnership and chart a path towards improved electricity service delivery.
The FirstPower delegation was led by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Okechukwu Okafor, and included the Chief Technical Officer, Engr. Dr. Emeka Egbujor; Chief Commercial Officer, Dr. Mrs. Nnenna Obi; Head of Business Intelligence Unit, Mr. Olabisi Odumosu; District Business Manager, Onitsha District, Engr. Jachukwu Umunna; Head of Revenue Generation, Centre Two, Mr. Ifeanyi Orji, alongside other senior officials.
The team was received by the Centre Manager of Onitsha Mall, Mrs. Precious Perkins; alongside the Operations Manager, Mr. Nwosuagwu Foster; the Credit Control Manager, Mr. Okon Effiong; Mr. Okwuchukwu Okeke; and other members of the Mall’s Management Team.
Speaking during the engagement, the FirstPower Boss, Engr. Okechukwu Okafor, described the visit as a demonstration of FirstPower’s commitment to nurturing strategic partnerships with its key customers. He emphasized that Onitsha Mall remains one of the company’s most critical Maximum Demand customers and a major contributor to commercial activities in Anambra State.
He noted that the mall, through its numerous businesses and tenants, plays a significant role in driving commerce and providing essential services to thousands of people daily, stressing that reliable electricity remains indispensable to its operations.
The FirstPower Managing Director acknowledged the challenges associated with the existing 33KV network serving the Onitsha axis, including occasional outages and voltage fluctuations that compel businesses to rely heavily on expensive diesel generation, with attendant effects on operational costs and productivity.
He, however, assured the Management of the Mall that FirstPower, in collaboration with the Federal Government, is working towards the development of an additional 33KV electricity network for the area, a project he said is expected to significantly improve supply reliability, provide network redundancy, accommodate growing energy demands and substantially reduce dependence on self-generation.
According to him, while the new infrastructure is being developed, the company has intensified efforts to optimise the existing network through enhanced vegetation management, replacement of weak insulation materials and improved fault response mechanisms aimed at stabilising electricity supply to the Onitsha commercial cluster.
Reaffirming FirstPower’s commitment to customer satisfaction, Engr. Okafor assured the Mall Management that the company would continue to work closely with them in addressing their concerns and ensuring a more reliable and efficient power supply.
Responding, the Centre Manager of Onitsha Mall sought further clarification on the transition from EEDC to FirstPower, the company’s operational jurisdiction, service improvement initiatives, band classification, tariff determination, billing methodology and other electricity-related issues affecting the facility. These were all satisfactorily addressed by the FirstPower Team on ground.
The Mall Management also highlighted some power-related challenges confronting the facility and their impact on business operations and operational costs, while also acknowledging the significant economic advantages of electricity from the national grid compared to diesel-powered generation.
To further enhance communication and speed up resolution of complaints, the Mall Management requested the reactivation of the existing WhatsApp platform previously used by both organisations for reporting faults, lodging complaints and exchanging information on service improvement.
The engagement ended with both parties reaffirming their commitment to sustained collaboration and constructive dialogue aimed at improving electricity service delivery, supporting business growth and strengthening the long-standing partnership between FirstPower and one of its foremost industrial and commercial customers.
More photos from the event:
