By Gbenga Abulude
Irate youths shut down the Afam power station belonging to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) late Friday, throwing the entire Rivers state into a total blackout.
Mrs Chioma Aninwe, the acting Manager, Corporate Communications of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), who spoke to journalists in Port Harcourt on Saturday, said youths from Oyibo communities took laws into their hands and marched in their numbers to the transmission station, forcing the operators to shutdown supply without observing safety measures.
Aninwe also explained that the electricity shortages being experienced in the area was due to load shedding introduced to accommodate every customer.
She said that PHED had held several meetings with leadership of Oyibo communities to enlighten them on the load allocation formula from the National Grid.
“The youths known as Oyibo Youths, from Oyibo Local Government Area of Rivers, shutdown Afam Transmission lines around 21:04 p.m. on Friday night, thereby, throwing the entire Port Harcourt and Rivers state into darkness. They demanded 24-hour electricity supply to their communities.”
“This ugly incident has become the order of the day due to their acclaimed inadequate power supply to their communities,” she said.
Aninwe said all attempts to make the youths come to terms with their reason proved futile as they insisted having 24-hour supply which according to her, would negate the Disco’s efforts to ensure equitable distribution of power to customers.
“PHED condemns in its entirety the frequent shutdown of Afam power station, and hereby, draws the attention of law enforcement agencies and the Rivers government.
“We urge the authorities to come to our aid and put a final stop to this frequent disruption of power distribution to customers at the slightest power challenge in the state,” she pleaded.
She said the company was worried that many residents in Oyibo see electricity as a form of social service rather than business.
Aninwe added that this has resulted to PHED being owed billions of naira due to non-payment of electricity bills by the communities.
