PHED Lauds A’Ibom Youths Over Facility Protection

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company Plc., has commended the youths of Idung Udofa Community in Eket Local Government Area of AkwaIbom State, for their vigilance in apprehending two electricity vandals suspected to have vandalised XLPS cables (armored) from the UDOFIA QIC Substation of the company in Eket.
The two suspects whose plot was foiled by the youths are currently cooling off in the cell at the Eket Divisional Police Station awaiting prosecution while the third vandal is at large.
Meanwhile, the police is on his trail to bring him to justice.
While commending the youths for acting in accordance with the basic understanding of protecting public utilities, Managing Director//Chief Executive Officer of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc, Dr. Henry Ajagbawa condemned the unlawful action of the vandals and assured that those who vandalise public facilities would always be dealt with according to the law.
He expressed displeasure at the habitual culture of vandalism in our franchise area despite public sensitization and customer engagement of the company for the public to understand the destructive consequences of vandalism on the company, customers and the general public.
Ajagbawa reiterated his position on instituting legal proceedings against any person or group of persons found to be engaged in vandalism of PHED critical assets regardless of their status in the society.
He also disclosed that there were many electricity vandals in various cells on the roll-call to be prosecuted by the courts using the extant laws as enshrined in the ESPRA Act (2005) ,Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Nigerian Criminal Code.
The MD/CEO emphasized that Infractions had no place under his watch and each case would be pursued to a logical conclusion using every legal means at the firm’s disposal.
PHED management also observed that customers were in the habit of interfering with high tension lines either by cutting trees, trading or erecting structures very close to power lines, adding that Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc discourages such risky behaviors because they could lead to electrocution at the slightest interference.

By: Taneh Beemene