A cross section of electricity consumers in Calabar, Cross
River State Capital, have expressed appreciation to the management of the Power
Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) over the improved power supply to many parts
of the city in recent weeks.

They told newsmen that they were satisfied with the
development.

Mr Ezekiel Abang, a civil servant, said that electricity
supply had remained relatively stable in his neighbourhood. “Honestly, for the
first time in several months or even years, we have had constant electricity in
Parliamentary (area) for about three weeks; it is very unusual,” he said.

Abang said that many residents of the area were happy with
the development, adding that they had never experienced such a thing in a long
time. He urged the PHCN to sustain the tempo.

A hairdresser, Miss Esther Tom, recalled that she had
enjoyed constant power supply for more than two weeks.

“Even when they take it (power supply), they always bring it
back after some minutes.”

Tom gave an assurance that if the situation continued, she
was ready to pay her bills regularly. “If the light continues like this, I will
be paying my bills regularly because I use light to work,’’ she added.

An industrialist, Mr Kenneth Ibe, attributed the resurgence
of power supply in the city to the Federal Government’s effort to reposition
the sector. He urged the government to do everything possible to sustain the
improved supply.

Ibe described the trend as good for the growth of the Cross
River economy and that of the country.

Other residents, who spoke
said that there was the need for the PHCN authorities to sustain the
constant power supply in the interest of the people.

According to one of them, Mr Shedrack Unah: “No country can
develop economically without stable power supply.’’

However, a taxi driver, Mr Sunday Johnson, said he did not
believe that the current development was an end to perennial power outage in
the city.

“I regard this constant power supply as a smokescreen; it is
not real. I believe it is because of the increase in electricity tariff.

“They just want to deceive us, so that consumers can pay
their bills without complaining,’’ he said.

Johnson, who resides in Eight Miles, said that there had
been power supply in the area for more than two weeks now, and wondered what
the magic was.

“Sometimes, there would be no light in the whole of Eight
Miles for several weeks, with PHCN giving unnecessary excuses.  How come that, for over two weeks now there
was constant light?’’ he queried.

Our correspondent, who visited the Calabar office of the
PHCN, reports that many consumers in Calabar have been thronging the office to
pay their electricity bills, in spite of the new increase in tariff.