Residents of Eket Lo
cal Government Area of Akwa Ibom have expressed dissatisfaction over poor power supply in the area.
The residents told newsmen in Eket that the electricity supply to the area had worsened over the past one week.
They said the development had crippled socio-economic activities in communities in the area.
One of the residents, Mr Joseph Abia, a beer parlour operator, told our correspondent that the poor power supply had adversely affected his business.
“I no longer sell my drinks because of poor power supply in Eket and some parts of the state. Blackout has brought my business activities to near zero,’’ he said.
Another resident, Mr Isaiah Effiong, said that since the Federal Government sold Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), there had been one complaint or the other over restoration of stability in the power sector.
He said that the development had made life so difficult for him and his family, whose business relied heavily on power supply.
He also urged Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) to distribute meters to residential houses to reduce cases of “outrageous bills” often given to resident of Eket and its environs.
Reacting to the development, Mr Jonah Iboma, Manager, Corporate Communication, PHEDC, said that the present power outage in the state was as a result of damage to transmission facilities.
“PHEDC wishes to inform its customers in Akwa Ibom that the present power outage being experienced in Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket and environs is due to a wire cut on transmission 132KV lines between Itu and Uyo,’’ he said.
Iboma said that engineers from the transmission company had been mobilised to the site to effect repairs on the lines.
He said the company regretted inconveniences caused by the power outage to the customers.
Iboma assured PHEDC subscribers that normal power supply would be restored to them as soon as the job was completed.
“We hereby solicit your understanding and patience while the job lasts,’’ he added.