Tina Amanda
The State government and all relevant stakeholders have been called on to intervene in the shut down of the power Substation located at Ahoada local government area, by the people of Ahoada which has thrown some communities in Rivers and Bayelsa State in total darkness for the past ten days.
General Manager, Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN Port Region, Dr Thomas Inugonum, who disclosed this to our correspondent expressed concern over the incident while lamenting that the shutting down of Ahoada Substation has become a reoccurrence challenge faced by the Transmission Company whenever the communities have issues of power supply with PHED.
He said further that it is totally unacceptable for the people of Ahoada to shut down government facilities whenever they have issues with PHED, noting that the Substation is the only 123KV station that feeds Bayelsa State.
Dr Inugonum appealed to the state government to intervene in the situation, as the people of Ahoada have threatened to burn down the Substation should the transmission workers try to restore power.
“I assumed duty two weeks ago, we have been trying to see how we can make sure we live up to expectations but one of the greatest challenges I met was the community issue at Ahoada. Ahoada is our substation that is being fed from Owerri.
“Unfortunately the substation in Ahoada feeds another 132KV station in Bayelsa and the only substation that feeds the whole Bayelsa. The community decided to shut it down when they had issues with Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company PHED. The issue is not with us but with Port Harcourt Disco following their demand for 24 hours of power supply in the area.
“Because they knew the power supply is from the transmission, instead of going to the Port distribution office they came to our office and shut it down, threatened to burn it down if we come in there to restore the system. As I speak it’s the community people that are occupying the place.
“My intention is to meet with the Governor of Bayelsa so he will liaise with his colleague Governor of Rivers State. As a regional manager, I take care of six states, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Bayelsa, Rivers and Imo. The whole of Bayelsa is dark which is not acceptable.
“We are pleading with the government to come to our aid and see how government infrastructures will be protected from vandals and hoodlums. If this could be done, then we would be able to restore power to Bayelsa State. We do not want as a situation my men will go there to restore power they will be attacked and killed”.
He, however, said that they have been waiting to see how they can solve the problem by using Government officials, just as he said if they are given the opportunity, such thing will not occur again.
