The South East Electricity Consumers Association (SEECA) says businesses in the South East lost over N28 billion in three months due to poor power supply. Its coordinator, Sebastine Okafor, made the claim in Enugu while urging governors to invest more in electricity generation. He described stable power as the quickest route to industrial growth in the region.

Okafor said constant outages have forced many small businesses to shut down, especially during peak festive periods. According to him, unreliable electricity has increased hardship for traders and artisans who depend on daily power supply. He warned that more jobs could be lost if the situation continues.

He also defended electricity distribution companies, saying they can only distribute what they receive. The group noted that the South East reportedly gets just about seven per cent of the nation’s total electricity supply. Okafor argued that focusing only on distribution without boosting generation spreads scarcity.

SEECA called for investment in independent power plants to reduce reliance on the national grid. The association said the region has gas resources, skilled manpower and willing investors to drive generation projects. It insisted that improved power supply would cut poverty and revive industries faster than policy speeches.