Diri blames Port Harcourt power company over total blackout in Bayelsa

By Anita Godfrey

The Bayelsa State governor senator Douye Diri has blamed the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) for total blackout in the state.

It would be recalled that Yenagoa and other upland communities in state had been in total blackout over some weeks.

Speaking to reporters, Diri said the blackout witnessed in the state was caused by a disagreement between the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) and Ahoada Youths, which led to shut down of the Ahoada Transmission Substation and cut in power supply to the State.

This was made known to the public in a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Hon. Ayibaina Duba in Yenagoa during the weekend.

Hon. Ayibaina Duba explained that a team comprising the State Ministry of Power, Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, in collaboration with the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company is already engaging the TCN to restore power supply in the State.

The Commissioner maintained that the team is also working on appropriate measures to prevent future occurrence of such embarrassment.

Duba who appealed to the public and power consumers in the state for cooperation, said efforts were being explored to restore power supply.

The commissioner who also hinted the public of some few cases of vandalisation of electrical installations by some unscrupulous elements in the State, urged communities to be vigilant and report any act of sabotage of power facilities in their environment.