Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio Knocks PHED For Allegedly Arm Twisting Electricity Consumers

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By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo

Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, a foremost socio-cultural organisation of Ibibio Ethnic Nationality in Akwa ibom State has reasoned that it is unethical and against business principles for Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) or any distribution company in the country to surreptitiously arm twist individuals or communities to repair or replace damaged power facilities while the distribution companies are only interested in the circulation and collection of outrageous bills.

This was contained in a 13-paragraph communique issued at the end of the September 2022 Central Working Committee Meeting of Mboho held at its International Headquarters in Uyo, on Sunday.

The organisation also called on  PHED to significantly improve upon its rather poor services to its customers in the State and justify the huge amount that the state government has invested into the sector.

According to Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, “the situation where individuals or Communities in the State purchase and install transformers, electricity polls and cables on their expense, only for PHED to later take ownership of such facilities is totally wrong and unacceptable to the Mboho;

“That henceforth, such facilities could only be bequeathed to the PHED or any other distribution company whatsoever on the basis of 50-50 Equity Ownership between the provider(s) of the facilities and the Distribution Company;

“PHED, should, as a matter of urgency commence the distribution of prepaid meters to its customers in Akwa Ibom state State and desist henceforth from giving outrageous estimated bills to Akwa Ibom households.”

The communique which was signed by the International President, Akparawa James Edet and Secretary General, Akparawa Bassey Bassey

commended the Akwa Ibom state government for the plan to float a State owned Power Distribution Company.

Mboho noted that such an investment will improve power supply to the state, thus, boost the state’s industrialisation and small scale business drive, create wealth, empower the citizenry and ultimately improve the state’s economy.

Similarly, the organisation lauded the Akwa Ibom state government for plans to continually connect more communities in the state to the national grid and for the planned distribution of more transformers to Akwa Ibom Communities;

Mboho also commended the federal government through its donor agency for the provision of Solar Power Lights to 27 Communities in Akwa Ibom state and solicited that more Communities in the state should be enlisted to benefit from the programme

The meeting was presided over by the 11th International President of Mboho Mkparawa Ibibio, Akparawa James Edet , NPOM as Chairman -in – council. 

At the meeting, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Power and Petroleum, Akparawa John James Etim was invited to address the Mboho’s Parliament on the activities of his Ministry and also highlight the significant milestones of the state government in the power and petroleum sector. 

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