Calabar Residents Count Losses After 49 Days Power Outage

 

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By NAN,

Residents of Calabar, the Cross Rivers State capital have started to count their losses following 49 days of power outage in the capital city.

Some of the residents, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday, lamented how the development had affected their means of livelihood.

They regretted the fact that nobody, especially from the Government, seemed to be doing anything to restore the power supply to the area since March 22.

The residents noted that though the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHED, had attributed the power outage to vandalism of their transmission line to Calabar, they wondered why it is taking so long and time to fix.

The respondents noted that the lack of power supply to the city has greatly affected their means of livelihood and as such, wanted an urgent solution to restore it.

They narrated how they depend on generating sets which cost much in terms of buying of fuel and, thus affect their profit margin.

A resident and Manager of Victor Fitness Gym, Miss. Grace Okon, lamented that from a daily power supply of about seven hours to zero was not a fun way to run a business.

She stated, “I now spend an average of N3,000 daily on fuel instead of N1,500 before the cut in public power supply because I need electricity to operate between 6:30am and 6:00pm until the last customer leaves.

“Again, a block of ice that cost between N100 to N150 now costs N500 for cold drinks for customers. It is affecting me and I want an urgent solution to the problem.”

Similarly, a barbershop operator, Mr. Oyama Bassey, bemoaned the same thing and noted that despite the increase in his charges, it had not helped matters.

“It is a pathetic situation because I depend on this business to cater for my family, but nothing seems to be moving again because of the cut in power supply to Calabar.

His words, “I had to increase my charges from N300 to N400 to cater for the over N2500 from N1000 I spent on fuel before the cut.

“I am pained because I’m still not making any profit and yet customers are complaining about the increment.”

Another resident, Idara-Obong Jeremiah, while regretting the situation, said it had greatly affected nightlife in the city.

Meanwhile, Collins Igwe, Regional Manager of the PHEDC, has called for calm as efforts are being made to restore power supply to the city.

He stated that a team of engineers were working hard to put in place the vandalized lines that supply electricity to Calabar.