Some angry youths in Bomadi, headquarters of Bomadi local government area recently besieged the council secretariat with the intention of beating up a staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN over what they described as “unbecoming way power is supplied to the area”.
The youths numbering over 50 got wind of the presence of a PHCN staff, Mr. Joshua Onos in the chairman’s office and trooped out from different directions of the town to vent their frustration on him. The PHCN Staff, Mr. Onos was sent as usual to pick up payment for May 2013 light bill from the council secretariat. The youths who were angered by the non supply of electricity to the area by PHCN yet show up at the end of every month for the collection of light bill from the council insisted power must be supplied to commensurate the bills they collect monthly.
Some of the youths who spoke to Fresh Angle in their separate statements expressed disappointment saying, “We are tired of buying fuel to power our gen sets to light up our homes. After collecting money they will not supply us with light. They should explain to us why they choose to treat us this way, this is not fair.
At least we could see light in villages connected to the same transmission line with Bomadi to the national grid having power restored to them, yet Bomadi is in blackout. Yet, our bills are paid up. This is sheer injustice” they lamented.
It took the intervention of the council boss, Mr. Collins Olorogun to douse the tension because the youths were angrily demanding an explanation for
the abysmal and unbecoming way power is supplied to the area
Addressing the youths, Mr. Olorogun said the plight of the youths are understandable against the backdrop that they are now conscious of the
dividends of democracy brought to their door steps by the PDP led administration in the state. He appealed to the angry youths for calm and promised that his administration will continue to liaise with PHCN to restore electricity to the area.
The council boss who admitted the low supply of electricity to the local government maintained that power supply is vital to socio-economic development and can spur growth in other sectors of the economy, adding that “it is the life-line of economic activities. The people cannot be denied of it”.
While expressing disappointment, Mr. Olorogun faulted the company for what he called a failed bid to make the people of Bomadi local government area enjoy improved electricity supply in the country.
According to him, his administration since inception has paid up light bills to date through bulk payment. “My administration has been paying light bills to date through bulk payment by the council. You can see why the people will be angry when money is paid for light they cannot see, when other local government areas in the state enjoy electricity supply yet Bomadi local government area is in darkness, when their rights and privileges are robbed they will definitely react”.
He advised PHCN to always work with the council in their efforts to supply electricity to the area, even as the Service Manager could not be reached for comments.
The Chairman National Youth Council, Bomadi local government chapter, Mr. Godbless Keneke appealed to the youths to remain calm, just as he expressed confidence in the leadership of the council to resolving the issue. Mr. Keneke therefore called on PHCN to improve
the supply of electricity to the area.
Available records from the office of the council chairman on the analyses of electricity supply to Bomadi local government area shows 141 hours 41 minutes of power supply out of 720 hours in a month. 578 hours of darkness for the month of April. A total of about 20% below average of electricity
supplied. The record also shows 64 hours 28 minutes of power supply in the month of May out of 720 hours of the month.655 hours 32minutes of
blackout with only 9% supply to Bomadi local government area.
Copyright: Fresh Angle International (www.freshangleng.com)
ISSN 2354 - 4104
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