Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution company (PHED), Dr. Henry Ajagbawa, has called for a consolidated legislation to tackle electricity theft and vandalism.
The essence, according to Ajagbawa, is for suspects to face trial under speedy dispensation of justice, hence, reducing the cases of offence and deterring others from committing such act.
Ajagbawa stated this yesterday during a media parley at the PHED headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He said his administration would leave nothing unturned to arrest and prosecute anyone found culprit in deliberate diversion of electricity with the intention of avoiding payment of bill or vandalising property of the company.
According to him, “Electricity is one critical component of our lives we cannot do without. But customers are not largely cooperating in terms of bill payment.
“We have actively commenced a process to prosecute those caught in energy theft. The only way to be done with this problem is to have a legislation that is very clear, and administer in such case. We need a focus energy consolidation legislation that deals with energy theft.”
The PHED boss, who called for the cooperation of the public in the payment of electricity bill, stressed that: “You cannot have electricity and you do not pay your bills. If you bypass meter, you are blocking ways for others to enjoy the full power supply.
“We will continue to intensify legal actions against anyone or organisation that bypasses meter. When all customers are metered, we need to deal with the bypass issues.”
He specifically commended the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, whom he said: “Have spent so huge funds in upgrading power supply in the state.”
Ajagbawa advised members of the public to immediately report cases of electrical explosion, or other incidents connected to electricity that could lead to death or damages.
