Aggrieved youths of Ogbumnabali Community, in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State, stormed the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution office at D-Line on Friday, February 20, 2026, shutting down activities over power failure.
The protesters described PHED as heartless, narrating that they can only boost of two hours power supply for a whole 24 hours in a day while neighbouring communities enjoy over 20 hours of supply.
While expressing frustration over the impact of the power situation their businesses and livelihood, they accused PHED of issuing inflated electricity bills despite the erratic supply, alleging that in some cases figures are altered before being handed to residents.
Speaking in an interview, the Chief Security Officer CSO to the youth president, Mr Mark Omodu, explained that, “we are here for a peaceful protest concerning NEPA. Since December last year they have not been giving us light and we have been paying our bills and we are the people generating funds to the NEPA.
“All what we are saying is that they should give us light. Our soup and everything has spoilt in our fridges. So we are calling the stakeholders to come to our rescue. We are very peaceful people, we are urging them to remove us from band D and move us to band A because we are paying our bills.”
Another protester who spoke to newsmen was Mr. Wisdom Kalagbor. “Make them give us light, we no dey see light but them dey come collect NEPA bill, month never end them go come give bill but we are suffering.
“Them dey give us light only for night. Even the light for night we no dey see am again. See my body rashes, talk less of children. We need light for Ogbumnabali, Gather and Ogbum.”
A fashion designer, Mr Ali Olariwaju, narrated that, “December work still dey my house. They will give us light after 12 in the midnight, they will now take it after 3:00am. Ask me how I wan take meet up to pay, na that shop wey we dey do work, na that work wey we dey use pay nepa bill, it’s unfair.
“I buy fuel N5,000 everyday dey use an dey run gen. I dey use my own money buy fuel and still dey pay NEPA bill wey I no dey use, how do you want me to feel?”
Also, Mr Ndamati Chukwuladi expressed bitterness that perishable goods including seafoods stored in freezers have been lost due to lack of stable electricity.
“My mama dey sell sea food; prawns, fish, anything wey dey waka inside water na the thing wey my mama dey sell. She get two fridge but light no dey come even block self, no light to buy ice block, so how them want make we take survive?
Further, a resident, Mr Chinagorum Wali revealed that, “equipment wey dey give light dey inside our community, them go give one side light, the other side of the community no dey see light.”
On his part, Mr Confidence Amadi narrated that “this is a peaceful protest from Ogbum youths demanding that NEPA should give us light. As we speak there is a nearby community; Agbali have light 24 hours but they have refused to give Ogbum light and Ogbum is also a host community to NEPA.
“Giving us estimated bill. If they come they will give you a bill is N20,000, still circle for you to pay about N30,000. This is what has resulted to this peaceful protest demanding for light in Ogbum.”
Another fashion designer, Femi Ola lamented that “customer dey pursue me, I no fit deliver their work. I dey buy fuel daily N10,000 and still the fuel no still dey do me and them go carry ladder come tell me say you go pay N30,000 if you no pay that N30,000 I go commot your light, if you pay remain N5 them go commot am go.
“Na you go pay bill, you no go see the light carry do something. This thing no good, make them bring the light.”
This is about the third protest against the electricity distribution company in less than a week. One among them happened on Monday, February 16, when Rumuodumaya residents stormed PHED office along SARs road over blackout.
