The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) has blamed the long delay in the restoration of power to Mgbuosimini and Federal Estate situated close to Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Port Harcourt on the construction of illegal structures on PHCN right of way.
The Public Relation Officer Diobu Business District of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Mrs Ifeoma Ikejiaku who said this in an exclusive interview with The Tide Thursday in Port Harcourt, said that the situation had made it difficult for PHCN engineers to carry out repair work on dilapidated poles.
Mrs. Ikejiaku said that, the poles which were destroyed by thunderstorm also destroyed a transformer in the area.
She said that, PHCN engineers hard been finding it difficult to get to the site of the affected poles as a result of blockade by illegal structures.
The Diobu Business District PRO who described the situation as dangerous said that the trend should serve us a lesson to those who chose to build houses and erect structures on PHCN right of way.
Meanwhile, Mrs Ikejiaku has described as false the rumour that residents of the affected areas had been billed for the month of March.
She said that what was given to the people as the March bill was a carry over from the previous months, especially those who were owing the company.
It would be recalled that some residents of the areas told The Tide that they were surprised to see PHCN bill for the month of March despite the recently blackout in the area.