Oil & Energy
New Tariff: PH Consumers Speak On Power Supply
Mixed reactions have trailed the new electricity tarrif
introduced by the Federal Government on June I. Some residents of Port Harcourt
interviewed last week, expressed their views on the electricity supply by the
Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) within the past two months.
A high Chief Godswill Emenike said despite the high bills
sent to him at the end of every month, there has been no regular light in the
area he resides for the past five to six months.
According to Chief
Emenike who resides in the Rumuodomanya area of Port Harcourt,
electricity bill has been higher than ever before while the light is not
regular, saying “some days it comes for 3-4 hours and goes off for the next 4-5
days.”
“Like every other building in Port Harcourt, the PHCN staff
do not read meters but only send estimated bills for people to pay exorbitant
charges. In a 2-bedroom flat, they used to charge us between N1,200 to N1,500
according to what their computer tells them but this time, we pay N3,000 and
above and for the past 3-4 days we don’t have light.
He said when the light is regular, consumers would be happy
to pay any charge that is properly assessed.
Sylvester Udoji Mbam, who sells generators said that from
June I, electricity supply has assumed a new dimension as light has been more
regular and steady than before.
“From that June till now, light has been different unlike
before but electricity bill has increased double compared to what we used to
pay. Although we have no meter in our yard, I used to pay N300 per month
because we are many, but now, I pay N600.”
According to him,” the regular electricity supply has
affected my business as I do not sell as before. Before now, I used to sell
about seven to eight generators in a day, but now if I am able to sell I or 2,
I thank God because some days I don’t even sell one.
He, however, expressed joy at the present development in
electricity supply, saying that he would wish to change his business if he had
the capital as he has no other option, adding “people go after generators when
there’s irregular power supply but now that the situation has changed a little,
people don’t care about generators any longer.”
Another resident, Ben Peters said although there is
improvement in electricity supply, the service is not yet up to standard as
PHCN staff do not read meters before billing consumers, noting that in a
building that has three meters, the consumers are charged about N70,000 per
month and N23,000 for each meter.
Calling on the federal government to revisit the new tariff
regime, Peters said because of the hard times and unemployment in the country,
majority of citizens can not afford the bills.
Chief Bethel Dappah in his view said there is improvement in
power supply but people should be provided with pre-paid meters as in other
parts of the country.
A hairdresser, Blessing Okon lamented the high bill she has
been receiving since June, saying they now pay between N40,000 and N50,000 per
month for one meter which she said is too much as she does not realize such an
amount in a month.
She said although electricity supply is better now but she
can not afford the bill, which she described as very outrageous and appealed to
the government to reconsider the new tarrif with a view to reducing it in the
interest of the poor masses.
Shedie Okpara
Nigeria’s losses due to crude oil theft has been said to be more significant than those of some other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC).
The Chairman, Senate Ad- hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Senator Ned Nwoko, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Nwoko noted with dismay the detrimental impact of the issue, which, he said include economic damage, environmental destruction, and its impact on host communities.
According to him, the theft was not only weakening the Naira, but also depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District described the scale of the theft as staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day.
Nwoko disclosed that the ad hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft, which he chairs, recently had a two-day public hearing on the rampant theft of crude oil through illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and the systemic gaps in the regulation and surveillance of the nation’s petroleum resources.
According to him, the public hearing was a pivotal step in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation.
‘’Nigeria loses billions of dollars annually to crude oil theft. This is severely undermining our economy, weakening the Naira and depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social development.
‘’The scale of this theft is staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day more than some OPEC member nations produce.
‘’This criminal enterprise fuels corruption, funds illegal activities and devastates our environment through spills and pollution.
‘’The public hearing was not just another talk shop; it was a decisive platform to uncover the root causes of crude oil theft, bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
‘’It was a platform to evaluate the effectiveness of existing surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms; Identify regulatory and legislative gaps that enable these crimes to thrive.
‘’It was also to engage stakeholders, security agencies, host communities, oil companies, regulators, and experts to proffer actionable solutions; and strengthen legal frameworks to ensure stricter penalties and more efficient prosecution of offenders”, he said.
Nwoko noted that Nigeria’s survival depended
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) has called on Nigerian companies to position themselves strategically to take full advantage of the growing opportunities in upcoming offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
The Managing Director, SNEPCO, Ronald Adams, made the call at the 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) Conference, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, last Thursday.
Adams highlighted the major projects, including Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North, and the Bonga Main Life Extension, as key areas where Nigerian businesses can grow their capacity and increase their involvement.
“Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) says Nigerian companies have a lot to benefit if they are prepared to take advantage of more opportunities in its offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
“Projects such as Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North and Bonga Main Life Extension could grow Nigerian businesses and improve their expertise if they applied themselves seriously to executing higher value contracts”, Adams stated.
Adams noted that SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deepwater oil exploration with the Bonga development and has since played a key role in growing local industry capacity.
He emphasized that Nigerian businesses could expand in key areas like logistics, drilling, and the construction of vital equipment such as subsea systems, mooring units, and gas processing facilities.
The SNEPCO boss explained that since production began at the Bonga field in 2005, SNEPCo has worked closely with Nigerian contractors to build systems and develop a skilled workforce capable of delivering projects safely, on time, and within budget both in Nigeria and across West Africa.
According to him, this long-term support has enabled local firms to take on key roles in managing the Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which reached a major milestone by producing its one-billion barrel of oil on February 3, 2023.
The Emohua Local Government Area Administrator, Franklin Ajinwo, has pledged to improve electricity distribution in Oduoha Ogbakiri and its environs.
Ajinwo made the pledge recently while playing host in a courtesy visit to the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, in his office in Rumuakunde.
He stated that arrangements are underway to enhance available power, reduce frequent outages, and promote steady electricity supply.
The move, he said, was aimed at boosting small and medium-scale businesses in the area.
“The essence of power is not just to have light at night. It’s for those who can use it to enhance their businesses”, he said.
The Administrator, who commended the peaceful nature of Ogbakiri people, urged the Chiefs to continue in promoting peace and stability, saying “meaningful development can only thrive in a peaceful environment”.
He also charged the Chiefs to protect existing infrastructure while promising to address the challenges faced by the community.
Earlier, the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, led by HRH Eze Goodluck Mekwa Eleni Ekenta XV, expressed gratitude to the Administrator over his appointment and pledged their support to his administration.
The chiefs highlighted challenges facing the community to include incessant power outage, need for new transformers, and the completion of Community Secondary School, Oduoha.
The visit underscored the community’s expectations from the LGA administration.
With Ajinwo’s assurance of enhancing electricity distribution and promoting development, the people of Oduoha Ogbakiri said they look forward to a brighter future.
By: King Onunwor
