News
PHED, Ahoada Residents Tango Over Black Out
Residents of Ahoada town, the headquarters of Ahoada-East Local Government Area of Rivers State including its environs and the authorities of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) are now at daggers-drawn over the cause of total black out in the area.
“The people believe that PHED is deliberately starving the area of electricity”, because “The company is not meeting up the revenue generation target of N20 million imposed on staff in the business unit by the head office in Port Harcourt.”
A leader of Igwa autonomous community in Ahoada, Hon Isaac Itigwe told The Tide that “Last year, we contributed over N150,000 to repair a transformer, replaced armoured cable that was stolen before we got electricity supply during the Christmas period.
“Few days after the Christmas, PHED staff asked us again, to buy a new transformer, saying that the former one was wrongly installed, which made a major component to spoil”, he said.
Itigwe said that “In spite of this commitment, we are not getting light commensurate with what we are spending.”
Another resident, Sir Collins Eyee, who runs a mega-printing press in Ahoada, said “PHED has grounded businesses in Ahoada due to lack of electricity.
“The impression here is that PHED is deliberately putting us in darkness so that they could raise the N20million through the backdoor”.
“Every day”, he said, “they complain of bad transformer, stolen cable, vandalisation of poles, but now residents have decided to task themselves by providing security to this facility”.
However, the Public Affairs Manager of PHED, Mr John Oyil, who claimed ignorance of the blackout in Ahoada, promised to investigate the issues raised but said “Ahoada neighbourhood consumers are heavily indebted to us.
“Out of 4,913 customers in the area, only 1,440 are paying light bills, yet, we service our partners who are suppliers of gas and energy”, he added.
According to Oyil, in December, last year, out of N36.22million indebtedness, only N4.5million was recovered, representing 13 per cent while in November of the same year, only N5.7million out of N32.18million owed was paid by customers in the area.
“Please, tell them to pay their debts, so that we can serve them better,” he urged.
But on the poor revenue generation, both Itigwe and a cold room operator, Madam Evelyn Okpara, attributed it to poor work etiquette, lack of maintenance of equipment and sheer wickedness.
“How can they complain of low revenue, when Abuja Quarters, Onugboji areas have no light for over two years because their transformers are bad?
“How can they have more revenue when Odiemereyi road has no light for the whole of October, November and part of December?, they asked.
A staff of Immigration Training School, situated at Abuja Quarters, who does not want his name in print, confirmed that the organization contributed N50,000 out of N600,000 charged residents for the repair of a transformer.
“But do you know that the transformer has not been working for the past one year? he quipped.
Although, Oyil appeared not to have any answer to these allegations other than “I will investigate”, The Tide gathered that PHED may not restore light to Ahoada and its environs for many months to come.
One staff at the Ahoada office told The Tide that “This is as a result of system failure”, adding that “It will remain so, until your people co-operate with us”.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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