Reports of continued illegal activities at the Ossiomo Power Plant by the Chinese firm, CCETC, raise grave concerns about respect for the rule of law, corporate responsibility, and the protection of host communities. If these allegations are accurate, they represent not only a breach of commercial agreements but a direct challenge to constituted authority and the judicial process in Nigeria.
Since October 5, 2025, operations at the Ossiomo Power Plant have reportedly been repeatedly disrupted, including the unlawful disconnection of the 33kV transmission line supplying several communities. These actions, allegedly carried out with the aid of hired thugs, have resulted in prolonged power outages lasting several months, crippling businesses, disrupting healthcare and education services, and threatening the economic survival of thousands of residents who depend on stable electricity for their livelihoods.
The economic impact is significant. Estimates suggest losses exceeding ₦1.5 billion to the power plant alone, not to mention the indirect losses suffered by traders, manufacturers, and small-scale enterprises across affected communities. In a nation already grappling with economic challenges, such disruptions deepen hardship and erode public confidence in the ability of institutions to protect lawful enterprise. Even more troubling are claims that CCETC, working with elements of law enforcement, sought access to Ossiomo Power Company’s bank accounts through what is described as an improper court process, despite an existing Federal High Court order in Abuja. If proven, such actions would constitute a serious abuse of legal procedures and raise alarming questions about regulatory oversight and institutional integrity.
The alleged refusal of the company to honour invitations from security agencies, including the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services is worrisome .No corporate entity—foreign or local—should be permitted to operate above the law or disregard lawful summons with impunity.
Nigeria welcomes foreign investment, and rightly so. But investment must go hand in hand with respect for local laws, court orders, and community welfare. When corporate disputes escalate into actions that harm entire communities, the state has a duty to intervene decisively, not only to protect infrastructure but also to preserve public trust in governance.
This situation demands urgent and transparent investigation by the appropriate authorities. All parties involved must be heard, but where wrongdoing is established, sanctions must be imposed without fear or favour. The rule of law cannot be selective, and economic power must not become a shield against accountability.
Electricity is not a luxury; it is a foundation of modern economic life. Any conduct that deliberately undermines power supply is an attack on development itself. The people affected by these disruptions deserve swift relief and assurance that their welfare is not secondary to corporate disputes.
Nigeria’s legal and regulatory institutions must rise to this challenge. Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done. The protection of lawful businesses, host communities, and national infrastructure depends on it.