The Rivers State Government has pledged to pay more attention to the electrification of rural communities across the state.
Commissioner for Power, Hon. Michael Anwari disclosed this in an interview with newsmen during a thanksgiving service/ reception organised in his honour by the Anwuri Royal Family of Rundele in Emohua Local Government Area.
Anwuri also said that the state government was working to ensure 24 hours power supply to the Port Harcourt metropolis.
On the issue of electricity tariff, the Commissioner said that government cannot do much about tariff, stressing that the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) was privately owned and that government can only appeal to the company as far as the issue of tariff was concerned.
He stressed the need for the people of Emohua and the entire Rivers State to give their full support to the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, promising that the government will provide quality service to the people in the coming years.
Also speaking with newsmen, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Emeka Woke, commended the Anwuri family for the honour done to their son, describing the Commissioner as a brilliant fellow.
He also said that the restoration of light to the Rundele Community was in line with the New Vision programme of government.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, Ogbakor Ruonu Anwuri, Chief Christopher Anwuri, said that the familyand the entire Rundele Community were proud of the State Commissioner for Power.
Anwuri also advised youth of the community to shun quick money syndrome and other vices.
He expressed the hope that the commissioner will bring his wealth of experience, acquired over the years, to bear on his new assignment.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has commenced operation light up the roads and streets project with 39 stations already operational.
The State Commissioner for Power, Michael Anwuri, who flagged-off the campaign, told newsmen, that the project was aimed at returning Port Harcourt to its Garden City status, improve night life, as well as night vision for motorists and security personnel.
So far, he stated that the route stretching from Ikwerre Road to Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa in Ikwerre Local Government Area; and Port Harcourt-Aba Express Road have been lit up while those of NTA-Mgbuoba-Ozuoba-Choba and Trans-Amadi roads are on-going.
Anwuri revealed that the street lights will be powered by generating plants stationed at specific locations with a transformer and power switch to regulate operations.
The Commissioner, however, lamented that the exercise was being frustrated by vandalism and theft of electrical installations.
“We are worried because while the project is on-going, vandals and thieves have continued to steal our equipment. Sometimes, they lay wait for our men and contractors to leave site, and they quickly remove what we have installed”, Anwuri lamented.
Anwuri called on the communities to help protect the equipment, recalling that last week at Oginigba in the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Trans-Amadi, some of its armoured cables were stolen.
Stating that members of the public should either call the police or reach out to the ministry to report any incident, the Commissioner said the ministry was working with security agencies to help protect government property.
He also enlisted the support of the media to help enlighten the public, especially host communities on the need to protect government property and ensure the exercise was sustained.
In the same vein, the state Commissioner for Power has hinted that the government was working towards providing electricity to rural communities across the state in the near future.
He explained that the current economic crunch has contributed in delaying the plan, assuring that once the revenue profile of the state improves, many communities will be connected to the national grid.

John Bibor/Kevin Nengia