PHED commends community for vigilance, caution actions that may trigger eletrocution
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc, Dr Henry Ajagbawa, has commended youths of Idung Udofa community in Eket local government council of Akwa Ibom State, for their vigilance in apprehending two electricity vandals suspected to have vandalized XLPS cables (armored) from the Udofia QIC Substation of the company in Eket.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Head, Corporate Communication, John Anonyai, and made available to journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
According to him, the two suspects whose plots were foiled by the youths are in the cell at the Eket Divisional Police Station awaiting prosecution while the third vandal was at large as the police is on his trail to bring him to justice.
The MD/CEO commended the youths for acting in accordance with the basic understanding of protecting public utilities but condemned the unlawful actions of vandals in destroying public facilities.
He assured the community and youths that those vandals who were caught in the unlawful act would be dealt with according to the law.
He also disclosed that there are many electricity vandals in various cells on the roll-call to be prosecuted by the courts using the extant laws as enshrined in the ESPRA Act (2005), Miscellaneous Offences Act, and the Nigerian Criminal Code.
Dr Ajagbawa reiterated his position on instituting legal proceedings against any person or group of persons found to be engaged in vandalism of PHED critical assets regardless of their status in society.
He expressed displeasure at the habitual culture of vandalism of his company’s facilities despite public sensitization and customer engagement by the company for the public to understand the destructive consequences of vandalism.
“Infractions has no place under my watch and each case will be pursued to a logical conclusion using every legal means at our disposal”, he stressed.
Meanwhile, the MD/COE noted that customers were in the habit of interfering with high tension lines either by cutting trees, trading, or erecting structures very close to power lines.
“Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc discourages such risky behaviors because they can lead to electrocution at the slightest interference.
“The public is hereby advised to desist from any form of activity around power lines to avoid electrocution”, he advised.