Electrical energy customers in Nigeria’s South-South area have lamented the devastating affect of incessant energy outages and exorbitant electrical energy tariffs on small companies.
Many enterprise house owners and residents have voiced their frustrations, citing the crippling results of unreliable electrical energy provide on their livelihoods.
In line with a current survey carried out by the Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) throughout Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River states, companies are struggling to remain afloat because of poor energy provide.
Respondents decried the persistent electrical energy challenges and the excessive estimated payments imposed on them regardless of receiving little to no energy.
Residents of Atan Offot, Obio Etoi, Stadium Highway, Aka Etinan, Obong Avenue, Idak Eyop, Mbeierebe Junction, and Atiku Abubakar Approach in Uyo metropolis reported extended blackouts, with some areas going months with out energy. Customers lamented that the little electrical energy equipped was typically insufficient and unreliable.
Mr. Jeremiah Ukpong, a laundry enterprise operator in Obio Etoi, disclosed that he spends N5,000 every day on gasoline to energy his generator as a result of extended energy outage in his space. He lamented that regardless of his struggles, the Port Harcourt Electrical energy Distribution Firm (PHED) nonetheless points him excessive electrical energy payments for energy he doesn’t eat.
Equally, Mrs. Theresa Donatus, a housewife residing on Atiku Abubakar Approach, accused PHED of issuing inflated estimated payments with out regard for the precise energy equipped.
“As you possibly can see, we have now no mild and the state of affairs has been like this for someday now. The unlucky incident is that PHED has distributed their estimated payments with out contemplating the truth that there isn’t any electrical energy provide. Earlier than, PHED used to offer us N10, 000 month-to-month billing, now they’re giving us N20, 000 with out even 4 hours electrical energy provide in a day,” she lamented.
Mrs. Patricia Inyang, a journalist residing in Ekong Ekpeyong Shut, urged PHED to handle the problem of estimated billing by offering pay as you go meters. She famous that she was being charged N17,000 month-to-month for electrical energy in her one-bedroom condo regardless of receiving erratic energy provide.
Mr. Aniefiok Udonquak, a landlord in Atan Offot, described estimated billing as exploitative, calling on the federal government to intervene by subsidizing electrical energy tariffs to assist small companies.
“I’ve noticed that small companies are closing down, because of epileptic energy provide; it’s troublesome to pay for the estimated billings and maintain the enterprise,” he stated.
Rivers Residents Condemn Poor Electrical energy Service
In Rivers State, residents of Elioparanwo, Okporo, and Rumunduru communities in Obio/Akpor Native Authorities Space expressed comparable frustrations over erratic energy provide and extreme billing.
- Mrs. Chinazor Daniel-Chukwu, a resident of Elioparanwo, revealed that they generally expertise as much as 19 days with out energy, but PHED nonetheless sends them estimated payments as excessive as N52,000 month-to-month.
“Probably the most infuriating half is that each month, they carry an estimated invoice amounting to N52,000 regardless of the erratic energy provide.
“Even when my husband confronted the officers delivering the electrical energy invoice, they failed to supply an affordable clarification for the outrageous invoice,” she acknowledged.
- Equally, Mr. Fyneface Diri, a retired public servant in Rumunduru, stated he had been compelled to speculate closely in photo voltaic panels because of 4 months of uninterrupted blackout.
- Mrs. Oroma Chile, a enterprise proprietor, additionally decried the affect of erratic electrical energy provide on her meals enterprise, saying she struggles to protect cooked meals, resulting in important monetary losses.
- One other resident, Mr. Chukwudi Kingsley, a tricycle mechanic in Okporo, attributed the rising value of groceries and important items to the excessive value of generator gasoline because of persistent energy outages.
Mrs. Tolu James, a resident of Rumunduru, urged PHED to urgently deal with the electrical energy disaster, noting that the warmth and lack of energy had negatively affected her household’s well-being.
“We can’t protect our meals or cost our telephones, and my toddler cries all through each evening as a result of warmth and mosquito bites.
“Final evening, my husband wished to be intimate with me, however the warmth was insufferable, so we couldn’t do something,” James lamented.
Cross River Residents Demand Motion
In Cross River, residents of Calabar expressed issues over the worsening electrical energy state of affairs, stating that Nigerians had turn out to be accustomed to poor energy provide regardless of frequent tariff hikes.
- Mr. John Akan, a resident, criticized the federal government for focusing solely on tariff will increase whereas neglecting service enhancements.
“The invoice I acquired in my home for January 2025 was N11,800 however for February, it doubled to N22,000, not like we got extra energy in February.
‘’In reality, we stayed with out energy for every week in February because of just a little fault in our transformer that took every week earlier than PHEDC responded.
“As all the time, Nigerians have discovered a approach to cope which is by doing plenty of calculations earlier than going to the market to purchase any perishable that wants preservation,” he famous.
Extra insights
In February 2025, the Producers Affiliation of Nigeria (MAN) stated “incessant” and “unwarranted” will increase in electrical energy tariffs in Nigeria are hindering the efficiency of the manufacturing sector.
The physique lamented that Nigeria has failed to realize the aim of privatising energy in 2013, which is to realize enough era and provide of electrical energy to all Nigerians.
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