10-Month Blackout: Ekong Etta Community Cries Out to Gov. Otu
By Ben Gbor
For about 10 months, residents of Ekong Etta in Cross River State have endured a prolonged blackout, with families, students, artisans and business owners bearing the daily burden of living and working without reliable electricity.
The situation, which is approaching a full year, has prompted the community to appeal to Governor Bassey Edet Otu for urgent intervention through the provision of a 500KVA transformer to restore power supply and ease the hardship confronting residents.
In an appeal signed by the Chairman of the Ekong Etta Community Transformer Committee, Engr. Johnsmith Okpo, on behalf of the committee and the entire community, the residents said their existing transformer had become seriously defective, leaving them without a reliable electricity supply.
“Our community has been without electricity for about 10 months and is gradually approaching one full year. Families, businesses, artisans, students and other residents are suffering the devastating effects of this prolonged blackout,” Okpo stated.
He disclosed that the community had made several efforts to resolve the problem through the relevant electricity authorities, but the situation remained unresolved, prompting the appeal for the Governor’s intervention.
“We have made several efforts and followed up with the relevant electricity authorities, but the situation remains unresolved. We are now appealing directly to His Excellency because we believe his intervention can bring a lasting solution to this hardship,” he said.
The prolonged blackout has disrupted household routines and economic activities, particularly for small business owners and artisans who depend on electricity to operate their equipment and provide services. Students have also faced difficulties studying under suitable conditions, especially at night.
Okpo said the immediate provision of a 500KVA transformer would help restore normalcy, improve living conditions and create a more favourable environment for businesses and other productive activities.
“We humbly plead for the immediate provision of a 500KVA transformer for Ekong Etta. This will restore hope, revive economic activities and greatly improve the lives of our people,” he appealed.
The committee chairman assured the State Government that the community was ready to work with the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) and other relevant agencies to ensure the proper installation, protection and maintenance of the transformer.
“We are ready to cooperate with the State Government, PHED and all relevant agencies to ensure proper installation, protection and maintenance of the transformer,” Okpo said.
Appealing to Governor Otu to consider the plight of the residents, he stressed that the community urgently needed relief from the prolonged outage and the difficulties it had imposed on families, students and business operators.
“Your Excellency, Ekong Etta is crying for light. Please hear our cry,” Okpo pleaded on behalf of the community, expressing hope that the Governor’s intervention would bring an end to the months of darkness.
