C’River Assembly Quarters in Darkness as Residents Decry Insecurity
Residents of the Cross River State House of Assembly quarters in Calabar say they have endured more than two weeks without electricity, a situation they describe as unbearable.
A resident who spoke to newsmen said the prolonged outage has disrupted daily life, forcing many to rely on costly alternatives for basic needs.
“The situation is terrible,” she said. “Simple chores like ironing and charging phones have become difficult. We now pay to get these things done.”
She added that the blackout has also cut off water supply, as electric pumps can no longer function. According to her, residents now ration water to cope.
“Most of us bathe sparingly to manage what we have. The environment is also deteriorating. The quarters are overgrown and waste bins are left unattended. It no longer reflects a place where lawmakers reside,” she said.
Sources further revealed that the persistent darkness has worsened security in the area. Hoodlums are reportedly taking advantage of the situation to invade the compound, stealing generators, chairs, air conditioners and mattresses, while also vandalising the transformer.
Residents are calling on the state government and relevant authorities to urgently intervene and restore power before the situation escalates.
The development mirrors a wider power crisis in Calabar, where many communities continue to grapple with erratic electricity supply and high billing. Areas such as Big Qua have reportedly been without power for eight months, while Nyangasan has remained in darkness for over six months.
