World over electricity supply is not just generated without an organized body placed incharge of it, manned by professionals from the electricity sector. It is against this backdrop that the Nigerian Government in its quests to serve the populace over the years set up the Nigeria Electric Power Authority (NEPA), a name that could not go into extinction.
Nigeria Electricity Power Authority (NEPA) was incharge of generating, distribution and maintenance of the electricity project in Nigeria. As the imperfection of Man is inevitable, the authority was lacking in the areas of its jurisdiction, thereby paved the way for discouragement, complaints, dissatisfaction and disapproval of the authority by Nigeria citizenry, hence the contemplation of a change in the administration of the authority.
The anticipated change however, came after many years with the introduction of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). The administration of PHCN does not take any new or innovative shape as most of the workers, managers and directors are the same people. It was quickly described as empting new wine into an old bottle which invariably remains and bears the same outlook.
The major problems associated with the NEPA which also culminated into the PHCN were not only incompetence, high level corruption, unprofessionalism but also absence of administrative endowment that eventually bedeviled effective and constant power supply. The people have regularly cried out for the incessant power failure or outage and subsequent black-out without remedy rather the situation persists.
With the uncontrollable blackout in the country especially in Rivers State where successive governments keep deceiving its citizens of building giant gas turbine and the monies spent on it, yet without 60% Power stability in the state, the government therefore decided to change directions, hence the establishment of PHCN.
Little wonder, the era of PHCN became another nightmare to the people because the same and most unprofessional hands and brains which murdered NEPA were left behind with the management of PHCN, how can such establishment thrive in the face-of modernization and technology.
It is on record that the era of PHCN was nonetheless worst than that of the NEPA. You know why?
It is believed that name affects the bearer; hence brother Jabez in the scripture cried out for a change of it for a possible liberation, which the Bible confirms was achieved. In the same manner it is worthy to establish that Nigerians who are brilliant species had attached acronyms such as “Please Hold Your Candle Nearer, Power Hurts Citizens of Nigeria, or Power Hinders Concerned Nigerians and others to the PHCN.
PHCN could not last longer in Nigeria but atrocities were grossly committed all over as electricity consumers were frustrated in terms of unnecessary blackout, outrageous bills even without power supply, all amounted to exploitation by the authority and staffers alike.
Again, as if NEPA and PHCN were incapacitated to do their professional job of generating, distributing and maintaining electricity in Nigeria, another change of contact and name was carried out witH the invention of Nigeria Electrical Distribution Company (NEDC) where capable state(s) key in to acquire through several names the electricity distribution in the various region and states.
The coming on board of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), an off-shoot of 4 power consortium of Nigeria, however did not change the battered situation experienced in Rivers State before now, and the question is “where is the multi-billion naira gas turbine” expected to boast power supply or electricity generation in the state?
In the state, several communities are now in total darkness occasioned on the PHED inability and incompetence in handling the giant establishment handed to them or which they acquired.
For example, Ogbunabali, Rumuigbo, Mgbuoba Communities as well as NTA and Location roads by Ada George are lamenting power failure for about 7 months which crumbles businesses and paralyses small scale activities.
Regrettably, the people are being forced to pay exhaubitant rates or outrageous bills without power supply. Is this, the state that both previous and current administrations boasted of providing stable power supply through its multi-billion naira Gas turbine?
Some residents pay as much as between N15,000 to N25,000 in some areas while some pay between N6,000 and N11,000 per month as electricity bills yet without power supply.
Can the Rivers Gas turbine transform to human and speak for itself on the many lies against it? No, but the people as well as the successive electricity management agencies are incompetent, insincere, corrupt and selfish amongst others, when they continuously keep the citizenry in perpetual darkness.
Could it be said that the several change of names carried out in the power sector affects its operations? Other than giving it a more better influential and sensible name, the absurd are given.
What does PHED signifies to the people who are in serious darkness and wishing to be liberated. Does it really mean “Port Harcourt Electricity for Destruction, Port Harcourt Electricity at a Distance or Port Harcourt Electricity in Darkness? The must answers to these questions should be attempted by authorities of the company.
Electronic cannot function without power supply, but how does PHED compute its bills when power supply is as scare as yesteryears petroleum products? The citizenry are lamenting this injustice as Port Harcourt and its environs are in darkness.
To PHED, the residents should pay bills without power supply, hence its agents smuggles in bills to consumers at odd hours when residents must have gone to work.
Bills are meant to be given to consumer who are happy to pay or remit their charges on worth they are sure of, not bringing it amidst embarrassment from residents.
The implication of intimidating residents with an outrageous bill even without consuming the said power may amount to a very serious situation between residents and the electricity distribution company across the state.
Another implication is, the indication that the current company saddle with the distribution and maintenance of the electricity in the state is far behind the tasks it proposes to and lead to another change of contractor and name in no distant time.
The power in Nigeria and Rivers State in particular could be likened to a communication giant whose names were reportedly changed from ECONET to V-Mobile to ZAIN, ZAIN to CELTEL an from CELTEL to AIRTEL, what a wonder. From NEPA to PHCN, and now PHED, is it not ridiculous?
It is the suggestion of Issues Abattoir that, a reversal to NEPA would be a welcome development to usher in a new lease of life instead of the present situation.
It is also advised that, competent professionals be used to handle such establishment like the power sector while PHED should be scraped.
Also solicited, is that authorities of PHED be probed as well as call to order to desist from printing out outrageous bills and above all stop forwarding bills until power supply is evident in the state.
Moreso, PHED should publicly apologize to the public on its inability to provide adequate power supply for the running four (4) months and as well as write off all bills within the period to cushion the effect of the unwanted and unexpected stay in darkness as only radio announcement was not enough to please the citizenry without a price by the electricity authority.
A stitch in time saves nine. ###
With James Mgboineme
Jamesprojectgodwin@yahoo.com.
