Palm Sunday without electricity in Buea and beyond

As a majority of Christians the world over commemorated Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, it was another day without electricity supply in Buea, capital of Cameroon’s South West Region.

Sources say the unending blackouts in neighbourhoods across the country is the result of ongoing “major maintenance works on the electricity distribution networks” being carried out by the electricity service provider, Eneo.

Eneo had rolled out a program for the maintenance works as follows:

On Sunday, 28 March 2021, from 05:30 am to 05:30 pm: Maintenance works at the Limbe Mile 2 Substation.
The affected localities include Mile 4 Limbe, Moliwe, Ombe, Mutengene, Tiko, all of Buea, Miles 14 – 18, Muea, Ekona, Muyuka, Balangui, Bombe, Kumba and all their environs.

On Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st March 2021, from 08:00 am to 05:30 pm, replacement works for damaged wooden poles on the Medium Voltage line in Limbe.

Affected localities will include: Karata New-Layout, Isokolo, Wovia, Kie, Ngeme, and Bobende, as well as all their environs.

On Wednesday, 31 March 2021, from 06:30 am to 05:30 pm, maintenance works at the Bekoko Substation.

Affected localities will include Mile 4 Limbe, Moliwe, Ombe, Mutengene, Tiko, Miles 14 – 18, Muea, Ekona, Muyuka, Balangui, Bombe, Kumba
and all their environs.

On Thursday, 1st April 2021, from 07:30 am to 03:30 pm, upgrading works for damaged wooden poles on the Medium Voltage line, with mass concrete poles (4 work sites) in Buea.

Affected localities will include Great Soppo, Bonduma, Santa Barbara, Bakweri Town, Sand Pit, Bokwai, Bwitingi and Molyko, as well as all their environs.

Eneo said besides power interruptions as a result of planned works, an incident may cause blackout in a locality.

“If you find yourself in such a case, immediately report the situation to Eneo via its Customer Relations Centre (8010) or any of its digital channels,” it said.

“Eneo regrets any inconvenience caused by the disruption of power supply, and thanks you for your support, understanding and loyalty.”

It however remains unexplainable that Eneo is yet to respect the program to restore electricity as spelled out in the statement announcing maintenance works.

As food and other perishable items rot in fridges across the affected areas, inhabitants wait to see when blackouts will be a thing of the past.