BLACK OUT: IKOT EKPENE ELDERS STORM NEPA OFFICE

Elders of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area under the auspices of Ikot Ekpene Political Elders Forum last Tuesday besieged the PHED office along Abak Road in Ikot Ekpene to formally lodge a complaint on what it termed as lackluster and poor service delivery by the company.                                                                                                                                 

Leader of the delegation and President of the group,Prof. Akpan Ibanga Akpan said the elders were in the office to register their displeasure over the abysmal performance of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution company in the area and the high bills dished out to residents by the company.

He said they were there on behalf of the residents who are made to sleep in darkness and afterwards made to pay so much for the service they did not enjoy. He said the visit by the elders was to forestall violent protest by the youths of the area. Other elders who expressed discontent over the services of PHED and questioned the integrity of some staff of company include the Secretary of the group,Engr.Udo Tom Essien,ACP Anthony Akpan Rtd,Mr Matthew Akpan among others.                                                                                                                   

Presenting the demands of electricity consumers in Ikot Ekpene to the Business Manager PHED,Ikot Ekpene,Mr.Asuquo Ekanem Asuquo,Elder Emmanuel Isang,Assistant Secretary of the Forum listed the demands to include improvement/stability of electricity supplies in the area,stoppage of estimated billings in line with National Electricity Regulatory Commission(NERC ),provision of prepaid meters to all consumers especially those who paid for such since February,repairs/replacement of unserviceable transformers.                                                                                                                                 Responding,PHED Business Manager,Ikot Ekpene,Mr Asuquo Ekanem Asuquo who stood in for the Branch Manager thanked the group for the visit and for their maturity in presenting their grievances. 

He told the elders that he was barely resuming duties in the area and promised the company will look into some of the issues raised. He pointed out that the drop in power generation was a national issue arising from the activities of militants and expressed optimism that once that is addressed,production will certainly improve. The Manager said part of the problem was with some residents who don't pay up their bills and appealed to the elders to help in sensitizing the people on the need to pay their bills to enable the company serve them better. According to Asuquo,high rate of indebtedness to the company has necessitated what he referred to as "energy management" which has to do with reduction of energy to avoid waste. He decried a situation where most electricity consumers waste energy by leaving their security lights in the day time as well as other unused appliances on. 

                                                         

The PHED Manager said the company has decided to provide meters to all consumers and called for patience. For those who had already paid for meters,such should come with their receipts to claim such. He assured the elders that the issue of over billing will not arise even as he promised to ensure prompt distribution of power to all parts of the area once they receive it from the generating company.   

                                                          Elders who visited the company include Air Commodore Monday Udo Rtd,Engr Gabriel Udoumo,Engr Maxwell Ekure,Elder Mrs Ekaette Okon John,Mrs Aniema Robert,Elder Ephraim Aka among others.