By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi in Buea
Residents of the Auberg neighborhood, Wotolo village in Buea, have raised deep concerns over a prolonged blackout that has crippled daily life and threatened livelihoods for more than three months. The community, home to many retirees, professionals, business operators and families, has been plunged into hardship as they struggle without electricity, a basic need they say has been denied for far too long.
On Thursday, November 27, 2025, a delegation of affected residents mobilised and visited the office of the Divisional Officer (DO) for Buea to formally present their grievances. The group, comprising elderly retirees, business persons, women leaders and youths, expressed worry over the unbearable conditions they now face due to the prolonged power outage. They were warmly received by the DO, who later directed them to the ENEO Buea head office for further clarification, stressing the importance of peaceful dialogue and discouraging any form of unrest.
At the ENEO office, the residents were granted audience by the head of the Technical Department, identified simply as Job. He listened to their complaints and acknowledged the severity of the situation, assuring them that efforts were underway to restore power to the affected neighbourhoods. According to him, the blackout was not unique to Auberg but part of a wider problem, as many transformers across Buea had recently broken down. He cautioned residents against forcefully connecting to transformers once installation is done, warning that such illegal connections could overload and damage the facility, further delaying restoration.
Quarter head appeals to consciences
The Quarter Head of Auberg quarter, Wotolo Village, Robert Abunaw EnowEgbe, delivered a passionate plea on behalf of the community. He described the dire impact of the outage on residents, especially the elderly who rely on electricity to refrigerate medications, power essential medical equipment, heat water, and run household appliances. “Auberg is a high-residence community with retired justices, senior journalists, principals, magistrates and business people,” he said. “The role of electricity in their daily lives cannot be overstated any day, anywhere. Just staying in darkness itself is an ordeal. Why are we still in darkness after three months?”, he questioned.
Abunaw added that some damaged poles remained unattended despite multiple reports to ENEO, and lamented the presence of an individual using a privately installed transformer while the rest of the community languished without light. “The situation is very volatile. Anything can happen,” he cautioned, calling for urgent intervention.
The president of the women’s meeting in Auberg, Kang Angeline Emuke, echoed similar frustrations. She explained that women, especially those managing households, have struggled to preserve food, support their families and maintain normal routines. After visiting both the DO and ENEO offices, she said residents were promised that fallen poles would be inspected and replaced soonest with electricity expected to return in the coming days. “We cannot continue to live like this,” she said.
Capital effect of the outage
The absence of electricity has also severely affected water supply, as borehole owners cannot pump water. Elderly resident, Pa Agbor Tambe Pius emphasised that the lack of both water and electricity has pushed families to the brink. “We hope that the promises made will be fulfilled, because what we are going through is difficult,” he stated.
Local businesses have been hit hard. Che George Kebeh, a businessman, noted that welders, salon operators and other small business owners have seen their income vanish due to their dependence on electricity.
Hope glimmers amidst hardship
ENEO’s technical representative reportedly assured the delegation that by December 20, power would be restored in at least three-quarters of Buea. Residents were also advised to create vigilante groups to safeguard installed transformers from tampering and illegal connections.
For some, the hardship is deeply personal. Madam Sheila, a seamstress and salon operator, revealed she has been unable to work or meet basic needs for her children. “Everything now depends on electricity. I haven’t been able to pay my bills or rent for two months. I pray the problem is solved soon,” she lamented.
As Auberg quarter, Wotolo Village waits for ENEO’s promised intervention, residents continue to hope that their three months of darkness will soon come to an end, restoring normalcy to a community struggling to cope with the heavy toll of life without electricity.