Alphonsus Nweze
8 November 2009
RESIDENTS of Enekwasumpu, Omagba Phase 2, Onitsha, Friday took to the streets in protest of the failure of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to supply them with pre-paid meters.
The protesters Enekwasumpu residents also took their grouse to PHCN office at GRA Onitsha, but were not allowed into the premises by police from Central Police Station Onitsha-led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Yufus Abdul.
The crowd displayed placard with inscriptions as "We will not pay N25 000 for prepaid meter", "PHCN stop intimidating us by seizing our light". "Prepaid metre is free, PHCN stop charging money for replacement", "It is our right to have the prepaid meter free of charge".
The protesters were however addressed by the Chairman of Enekwasumpu Residents Association, Mr. Ekene Chukwurah, in front of PHCN office at GRA, Onitsha, where he also read a protest letter to Senior Public Affairs Manager, Onitsha District Headquarters Mr. Maxwell Orjiakor, who stood in for the Business Manager.
The protesting residents enumerated their grievances as failure to provide the meter for surrounding communities of Enekwasumpu out, and not responding positively to their oral and written demands for the meter.
They also alleged that their old meter was dismantled and new ones not given to them, instead they were asked to pay N25 000 alleging that PHCN officials continued to seize their light to compel them to pay the money.
They also threatened that if the alleged humiliation by PHCN did not stop they "will be left with no option than to resist the officials of PHCN who will be coming for the purposes of disconnecting their line.
Responding, Spokesman of PHCN, Mr. Orjakor denied that they are demanding the payment of N25,000 from consumers who have old meter, saying that only those who don't have meter at all are the ones that will pay N25,000 in installments of eight times.
He said that the contractor was given the contract to purchase, install and hand them over to PHCN but some people are going through the back doors to obtain and install in their houses, adding that the prepaid meter that is available with the contractor is the ones meant for new buildings and not for buildings with old meter.
He said that prepaid meter for buildings with old meters have not been received by PHCN, saying that once it is available it will be installed without any charge except for those whose meter have been stolen.
He regretted that in Onitsha people rush for things unduly and in the process are duped by unscrupulous people who claim to be working for PHCN.
He, however, appealed to the protesting residents of Enekwasumpu to exercise patience and wait for their meter to be provided by the government as the authority must give account of the ones provided for the new buildings.
He said that nine communities in Onitsha including Omaba Phase I, Awada and GRA have been installed with prepaid meter without any protest or claim of paying N25,000.00
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