Editorial
Power Distribution Time To Break PHCN Monopoly
Disturbed by the apparent inability of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to effectively evacuate power from its gas turbines and distribute same to end users, Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi recently threatened to shut such under-utilised plants to avoid further waste.
The governor’s frustration was borne out of the state’s desire to address the very epileptic electricity distribution needed to enhance industrial development in the state, but which is repeatedly hampered by existing enactments that allow the PHCN unfettered monopoly.
Under the arrangement, while states and other corporate citizens may generate electricity, through the many Independent Power Plant (IPP) projects, they are by law inhibited from distributing power to end users for whom such is meant.
For instance, the Rivers IPP projects, alone have the Trans-Amadi (1&2), and the Omoku Gas turbines, which together should generate 300 megawatts installed capacity, but are forced to generating about 250 megawatts due to evacuation hiccups on the part of PHCN. Like Rivers, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) also recently commissioned its 650 megawatts Afam VI, the third in the area, intended for improved power distribution in the state.
Intrinsically, should both Shell and the Rivers State Government enjoy the legal backing to both evacuate and distribute power to end users, the state would, without doubt, be the first to celebrate uninterrupted power supply for a considerably long period.
This is because, the state is estimated to need between 250 and 300 megawatts to achieve such uninterrupted supply which the volume generated by both the state and Shell can comfortably cover and even supply excess to the national grid.
In essence, every effort made by corporate citizens and state governments will be a huge waste unless the monopoly enjoyed by the obviously ill-equipped PHCN is broken to enshrine healthy competition in power generation and distribution.
This is why The Tide sympathises with the Rivers State Government over the frustration of watching its people suffer epileptic electricity supply in the midst of plenty.
Even so, the governor’s threat to shut under–utilised turbines, we think, is not the right option as it would further negatively affect the level of service.
Instead, the Rivers State government should join forces with other stakeholders and push for the breaking of the monopoly now being enjoyed by PHCN for the good of the citizenry.
We say so because, many industrial and manufacturing concerns are either relocating or folding up on account of the huge bills incurred on private plants and outrageous charges imposed by PHCN for services haphazardly rendered or never rendered at all.
Further shutting running turbines, we fear, will drastically reduce the present quota from the national grid and plunge parts of the state into even more debilitating power outage nightmare.
Even so, The Tide insists that the federal government should, without any further delay, break the satanic monopoly, if Nigeria is to be counted among the comity of nations keen on industrial and rapid infrastructural growth and development.
That electricity generation is one major pillar on which rests the transformation and growth of any economy is merely stating the obvious. This, perhaps, underscores President Goodluck Jonathan’s resolve to personally superintend the power sector.
It is on this count that The Tide is optimistic that the right things will be done, key among which is the empowerment of states and other willing stakeholder partners to generate, evacuate and distribute power rather than encumbering an inept PHCN with such vital national demand.
We are encouraged by the success achieved in the communication sector with the introduction of cell-phones and GSM service providers, and the benefits such healthy competition has provided the citizenry.
Unless those benefits are extended to the power generation and distribution sub-sectors, all the talk on improved electricity services would remain what they have always been – lip service, nothing more.
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Addressing Unruly Behaviours At The Airports

It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.
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