The Umuomanta Autonomous Community in Nbawsi-Nsulu, Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, has received an unreserved apology for failed electricity supply during the Easter period.
In a rare act of sensitivity to the plight of its customers, a gesture uncommon in Nigeria, Aba Power explained that it was unable to restore light to Umuomanta because of the failure by one of its contractors to supply cables to reconnect the community to regular electricity supply. This followed the earlier destruction of six high tension (HT) poles in the area by a windstorm.
In an email to newsmen and stakeholders on Easter Sunday, Edise Ekong, Aba Power’s Brand Communication Senior Manager, disclosed that replacement poles were procured from Abak in Akwa Ibom State and Port Harcourt in Rivers State for the job. This was because of the scarcity of electric poles in Aba and environs.
“The poles were promptly mounted. Our operational staff waited for three days to reconnect supply to this community, only to be disappointed by the cable contractor.”
“We later learnt that two key staff at the contracting company travelled out of town to celebrate Easter without making arrangements for the supply of the wires to our people on site”, he added.
Though the name of the offending firm was not disclosed, it was understood that the company is based in Aba.
“We have no option but to blacklist this firm immediately, even though this is the first time it has breached terms of contract. This is to serve as a warning to both our contractors and staff that service to our customers takes priority”, he added.
Ekong pledged that Aba Power would resume power supply to the nine villages of Umuomanta community on Tuesday, April 7.
“We have now sourced the required cables from alternative suppliers and our operational staff are about to return to site”, he assured.
Ekong expressed gratitude to the elders and residents of Umuomanta community for their patience and understanding while the power outage lasted.
Meanwhile, Aba Power has appealed to members of the public to stay away from poles and overhead cables during rains because some of the poles in the distribution network are weak and compromised.
“They were installed about 15 years ago during the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) days and, from the look of things, many no longer meet technical requirements.”
“We don’t want to lose any person to electrocution, nor do we want poles to fall on people”, Ekong said.
The communication manager said the company has lost over 70 high tension poles and about 10 low tension poles to windstorms and haulage truck accidents in the last one month alone. This, he said, was due in part to an upswing in economic activities in the state in recent times.
He said the Abia airport construction site as well as several new housing estates are springing up within the state, thus leading to an influx of heavy duty vehicles supplying or moving materials to project sites.
“We would, therefore, appeal to truckers to be on the lookout for our wires and poles when driving.
“We thank God that no trucker has been electrocuted in the Aba Ring-fenced Area in the last few years,” he concluded.
