…Reps Give PHEDC One Week to Restore Power
After six agonizing years of darkness, the people of Odoro Ikot in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have cried out to the House of Representatives, seeking justice over the prolonged disconnection of power to their communities.
Representatives of the 17 affected communities appeared before the House Committee on Public Petitions on July 1, 2025, dragging the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) over what they described as illegal billing and disconnection that has crippled their daily lives since 2019.
Led by Uwem J. Useh, Chairman of the Odoro Ikot Development Association (Abuja Chapter), the group accused PHEDC of slamming a N50 million debt on the communities based on estimated billing, in clear violation of Nigeria’s electricity regulations.
“PHEDC unlawfully billed us in violation of capping for estimated billing for un-metered non-MD customers, which resulted in a debt of N50,000,000. They disconnected electricity to our communities without notice, and we’ve remained in darkness for nearly seven years,” Useh told lawmakers.
Chief Princewill Okorie, a consultant for the Odoro Ikot Community Development Association, added:
“The fact of the matter is that staff of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company on 9th November, 2019 disconnected electricity supply to the seventeen communities in Odoro Ikot clan with the claim that the communities are owing the company the sum of N50,000,000, an action that violates regulations of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission.”
In his presentation, Okorie called on the Committee to intervene urgently. He requested the lawmakers to direct PHEDC to restore power, cancel the unjustified N50 million debt, and compel the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to enforce its de-bulking policy in Odoro Ikot.
He also urged the Committee to penalize PHEDC for disconnection without the mandatory 10-day written notice and to apply provisions of the 2023 Electricity Act for false declarations. He stressed the need for PHEDC to install meters both at the transformer level and in individual homes, ensuring transparency and preventing further exploitation.
He demanded an investigation into PHEDC’s handling of over N69 million in approved capital expenditure, questioning why no visible projects had been executed between 2014 and 2023, despite the company incurring N28.5 million in spending.
Okorie appealed to the lawmakers saying, “We thank the Committee for hearing this matter. We pray that our requests be granted to save the people of Odoro Ikot clan from the torture inflicted on them by PHEDC since 2019, and to restore the economic and social activities that will enhance the development of our communities.”
Responding to the emotional testimonies, Hon. Wogu Matthew, Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee, ordered PHEDC to reconnect the communities within one week. However, PHEDC’s representative pushed back, demanding a down payment of at least N5 million before beginning the reconnection process.
The hearing was adjourned to July 31, 2025, for follow-up reports on compliance.
For now, the people of Odoro Ikot wait—tired, hopeful, and yearning for light.
