Power Outage: Frozen Food Dealers Count Losses

Frozen food dealers have

recorded huge losses following failure by Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in restoring power within five weeks of repair work as earlier promised, to end epileptic power supply in Port Harcourt.

The Manager, Tam Ebenezer Frozen  Food (East Atlantic  Company Limited) Mrs. Catherine  Douglas, who spoke with The Tide Friday, said the inability of PHCN to maintain its cables and other equipment has brought a major set back to the business.

Mrs. Douglas recounted how her company lost greatly in recent times due to irregular power supply.

According to her, N10,000 worth of fish could be gotten for a less amount below the cost price if there is no power supply.

She explained that if urgent sales  slash are not made the whole business may be grounded due to its fragile nature.

The businessman, stressed that the power company had frustrated business operators in the state, while calling on them (PHCN) to sit up.

She pointed out that the only way to eradicate poverty was to encourage private sectors, by increasing the volume  of power supply.

“If there is improved light, business will grow and poverty will be eradicated” she said.

Narrating her woes further , she lamented that her 75 KVA generating set consumes upto N16,000 worth of diesel daily, saying that the little profit recorded  goes for dissel.

On whether to replace, PHCN with another company, she disagreed  saying that they may behave  same way with the company.

Earlier in an interview with newsmen the principal manager, public  Affairs, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC), Mr Obidili Onuwah, attributed the delay to its earlier promise to  late commencement of job, as he appealed to Port Harcourt residents to bear with them.