Epileptic power supply hits Benue

Following the official handover of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on November 1st, 2013, residents of Benue state have continued to groan in darkness following the epileptic power supply which has crippled both business and social activities in the state.

BusinessDay investigations revealed that the abysmal power situation in the Makurdi metropolis and its environs had deteriorated due to a sharp drop in the supply of electricity to the Jos Zonal Distribution from the national grid.

Benue residents who spoke with BusinessDay including Tondu Mark of Pever Agenga settlement opposite Benue state University; Bob Agirigi of IDS Close; Kashim Ibrahim Road; Makurdi and Fanen Ugese of Vandeikya local government area of Benue state all expressed doubts about government’s “sincerity in uplifting the power sector” while others were of the opinion that government was only paying lip service to reforms in the power sector.

Most residents especially traders have insisted that business activities have crippled following series of interruptions and outright blackouts witnessed within this short time after the handover. “The worst is that we get to pay bills monthly even when we do not see light,” Nnena Asadu, a trader/resident of Pever Agenga settlement opposite Benue State University, lamented angrily.

Recently John Emeruwa, the district manager, Makurdi Business unit, explained that the supply to the state had become non-static due to human factors making it “difficult to meet the energy needs of consumers as expected.”

Emeruwa denied the alleged arbitrary billing of electricity consumers, maintaining that, “the monthly tariff was based on a billing system introduced by the National Energy Control Centre. He named the two billing system as meter reading and scientific method.

It would be recalled that Chinedu Nebo, professor and the minister of power, had recently said power generation fell to as low as 2,628.6 mega watts, a sharp contrast to the over 4,000mw previously generated.