Israel Umoh
Distraught residents of Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital have lamented the adverse impact of economic activities following the collapsed electricity infrastructure that has plunged the area into darkness, Straightnews can authoritatively report.
Check by the newspaper revealed that about 200 households in parts of Uyo metropolis, Akwa Ibom capital are groaning over electricity blackout caused by a faulty transformer.
It was gathered that the 500-KVA transformer that supplied electricity to more than 6,000 residents of the area, covering a portion of Udo Ekpo Mkpo Street up to Obong Udo Nkang, High Tension, Tonyleen, Ebong Akpakpan Streets, as well as the adjoining Anua axis collapsed five months ago, imposing grave difficulty to socio-economic lives of the residents.
Also affected is the thickly populated urban area within the vicinity of the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Uyo LGA, whose inhabitants wallow in perpetual darkness, blaming the crisis on negligence of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED).
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Straightnews gathered that businesses around the affected areas and other socio-economic activities are aground, while suspected criminal elements are on the prowl operating under the cover of the night.
As a result of their predicament, some concerned landlords and homeowners, it was learnt, approached the PHED with a letter and attached that of the Paramount Ruler for the repairs of the faulty transformer or replacement with a new one, but the company paid deaf ears to their request.
The residents had written several letters to that effect addressed to relevant Commissioners to no avail, our Correspondent gathered.
Thereafter, seven landlords in a letter dated April 2, 2024, with the Paramount Ruler’s covering letter dated April 5, 2024, checks revealed, were sent to some authorities to provide and install a new transformer for them.
The letters made available to Straightnews newspaper entitled: Appeal for approval/installation of 500-KVA transformer duly were delivered to the state Commissioner for Ministry of Power, Secretariat Annex, Uyo and the State Commissioner for Niger Delta Development Commission, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo on April 8, 2024.
One of the letters reads: “We, the landlords and the entire residents of Atai Eniong Offot in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, are constrained to complain about, lack of electricity supply due to the collapse of a transformer that fed the area.”
In a letter of Recommendation made available to the Straightnews, the Paramount Ruler of Uyo wrote: “I am aware of the plights and predicament facing the residents of Atai Eniong Offot, Uyo Local Government Area, my primary abode as a result of the collapsed 500-KVA transformer.
“I do not have any objection in recommending this application to you to approve for release and installation of a new transformer to change the narrative of ‘dark community in the metropolis.”
According to one of the signatories of the letters, neither the Commissioner for Power nor the NDDC Commissioner has responded or acknowledged receipt of the letters officially.
As a remedial action, some concerned landlords levied each household N5,000 for a bungalow and N10,000 for a storey building while estates go for N50,000 for repairs of the faulty transformer.
According to an insider, the faulty transformer has been repaired with more than N1.5 million, but there is no money (about N650,000 yet to be paid by some households) to fill new oil in it before it is installed.
Beleaguered residents cry out
Following the blackout and PHED’s lukewarm attitude to the plights of the residents, Straightnews newspaper visited the streets to feel the pains and pulse of the electricity users.
Victor Emmanuel – tailor
“I am losing a lot of patronage due to loss of customers. We use a big generator for our industrial machine. I buy five litres of fuel daily now costing N900 a litre in black market. We open by 8 a.m and close by 4 p.m. thus having low patronage due to closing time. Let government repair the faulty transformer or replace it with a new one to aid our business.
Miss UduakAbasi Udofia- bar manager
“We spend more than we make in a day. We spend N3,000 on ice block to chill our drinks. We spend at least N3000 on fuel daily for three hours. As you can see, I have called a repairer to service the generator. Yet, we don’t have enough patronage because customers usually complain that our drinks are not chilled. Our expenses daily outweigh the profit. Let government come to our aid by providing a new transformer in the area.
Ubong Edet Okon- Laundry manager
“We buy five litres of fuel from black market every day costing N4,500. Though PHED used to give us an estimated bill of N45,000, it was cheaper than what we have been spending on generator. We want government to provide a new transformer for us alleviate our hardships.
Rt. Hon. Owoedimo George- politician
“It is sad and unfortunate that High Tension Street hosting Premier Medical Services and important businesses and Churches together with prominent persons has remained without electricity for five months. This has resulted in the rising criminal activities in the area. Small businesses such as laundry, restaurant, and artisanal are gravely affected. The residents now go for a la carte as they cannot cook and put their food in the refrigerators. Efforts by the residents and Paramount Ruler in reaching the state Commissioner for Power and the State Commissioner for Niger Delta Development Commission have proved abortive as they feel we are not important. Over 6,000 residents living in the urban centre are affected by lack of electricity.
“I want to call on the state Governor through his ARISE agenda, the Senator representing Uyo Senatorial District, member representing Uyo-Nsit Atai-Uruan Federal Constituency and member representing Uyo State Constituency to come to our aid by providing a new transformer.”
Mrs Joy Kufre- Hair dresser
“The effect is biting on us – the hair dressers- who most times use power for hair dressing.
Daily, I use five litres of fuel costing N850 a litre to work. The amount eats deeply into my capital and profit.
“I want to call on the government to come to our aid by providing and installing for us a new transformer to alleviate our economic hardship.”
Rt. Hon. Friday Okobo- politician
“You cannot quantify the effects of blackout to the residents since January this year. We have suffered a lot passing through intensive heat making it difficult to sleep inside in the night but to sleep outside. We cannot cook and preserve food in our refrigerator; we cannot watch television sets during Champions league and premiership leagues; we go outside to charge our telephones and other mobile devices; we cannot pump water, and this has caused a breach to security to our lives and properties in the night as criminal elements break into houses at night.
“I want the state government to come to our aid by providing us with a new transformer. Let PHED ensure electricity is restored in the area since it is their duty to collect monthly tariff from the people.”
Chief Ndarake Udoh – Pensioner
“The transformer broke down in January 2024. Without electricity, no preservation of food, ironing, watching of television sets and charging of accessories.
“We are managing to live without electricity and going about begging people to make use of power supply to charge telephones and other devices.
“I want the state government to provide us with electricity. Since we have spent money to refurbish the faulty transformer, PHED should give some tariff holiday to compensate for the money we had spent.”
Elder Sunday Okon Effanga – Artisan
“It affects because I am dealing on weldings and fitters. Without power, I have not been able to deliver certain jobs to customers. In the night we could not sleep. Our houses are prone to burglary attacks.
In a day, I spend N15,000 on diesel. With power supply, I used to spend N20,000 or N15,000 as tariff on a monthly basis.”
“I want to appeal to the state government to provide us with a transformer because money on diesel has eaten up my profit. I lose customers too due to inability to meet up their demands caused by lack of power.”
