By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has warned against any form of illegal activities around the power lines by public in Akwa Ibom State to avoid electrocution.
It also advised those with the habit of stealing or vandalising power installations in the state to desist forthwith, saying offenders will be dealt with according to law.
Head, Corporate Communication PHED, John Anonyai stated these in a statement made available to journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Wednesday.
“Infractions has no place under my watch and each case will be pursed to a logical conclusion using every legal means at our disposable. he stressed.
“Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc discourages such risky behaviors because they can lead to electrocution at the slightest interference,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, the MD/COE noted that, customers were in the habit of interfering with high tension lines either by cutting trees, trading or erecting structures very close to power lines.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of PHED, Dr Henry Ajagbawa, has commended youths of Idung Udofa community in Eket local government council of the State, for their vigilance in apprehending two electricity vandals suspected to have vandalized XLPS cables (armored) from the Udofia QIC Sub-station of the company in Eket.
According to him, the two suspects whose plot were foiled by the youths are in the cell at the Eket Divisional Police Station awaiting prosecution while the third vandal was at large as the police was on his trail to bring him to justice.
The MD/CEO commended the youths for acting in accordance with the basic understanding of protecting public utilities, but flayed the unlawful actions of vandals in destroying public facilities.
He assured the community and youths that, those vandals who were caught in the unlawful act would be dealt according to the law.
He also disclosed that, there are many electricity vandals in various cells on the roll-call to be prosecuted by the courts using the extant laws as enshrined in the ESPRA Act (2005), Miscellaneous Offences Act and the Nigerian Criminal Code.
Dr Ajagbawa reiterated his position on instituting legal proceedings against any person or group of persons found to be engaged in vandalism of PHED critical assets regardless of their status in the society.
He expressed displeasure at the habitual culture of vandalism of his company’s facilities despite public sensitization and customer engagement of the company for the public to understand the destructive consequences of vandalism.
