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Ukorebi Esien | Novemeber 14, 2025
AKAMKPA - The Chairman of Akamkpa Local Government Council, Hon. (Ophot) Felix Akposi KSJI, has issued a one-week ultimatum to Sterling Global and the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) to restore power to Akamkpa or face strict sanctions, including the impounding of Sterling Global's trucks operating within the local government.
Akposi described the prolonged blackout and the attitude of both companies as negligent, calling their delay in restoring electricity "witchcraft."
The directive followed a tense meeting in his office on Thursday, November 13, 2025, where the Chairman confronted both parties over the lingering power outage and their failure to act swiftly on issues that should have long been resolved.
Akamkpa had been scheduled to regain electricity on November 1 after multiple stakeholders' engagements that addressed accumulated arrears and PHEDC's commitments. But the plan collapsed when a Sterling Global truck, conveying materials to a site in Ikot Abasi, rammed into a PHEDC pole, killing two people and leaving another critically injured.
Akposi, who had earlier intervened to mediate between both sides, said he was shocked that neither company made meaningful progress weeks after the incident.
"I intervened so this problem could be fixed immediately," he said. "I even visited your company personally and appealed to PHEDC to reduce the cost implications attached to energy loss. But more than two weeks later, nothing has been done. You cannot frustrate Government or sabotage what has already cost millions to restore."
He cited a similar case in Lagos where a company promptly replaced a transformer after an accident, questioning why Sterling Global and PHEDC allowed the Akamkpa issue to drag.
Sterling Global's Chief Security Officer, Mr. Victor Usang, accused PHEDC of presenting inflated quotations and allegedly understating the vandalism recorded along the Isong Inyang axis following the crash.
The meeting compelled both sides to re-examine the facts, including Akamkpa's earlier disconnection from the national grid due to poor bill remittances and the widespread vandalism that has kept large parts of the community in darkness for over eight years.
After listening to submissions from both parties, Akposi directed PHEDC and Sterling Global to jointly review the disputed quotations and commence repair works immediately. He insisted that electricity must be restored within one week or Sterling Global's trucks would be impounded by the council.
Beyond electricity concerns, the Chairman warned Sterling Global over recurring cases of reckless driving involving its vehicles, describing the trend as alarming and avoidable. He said persistent incidents could compel the council to introduce stricter safety regulations to protect residents.
Reaffirming his administration's stance, Akposi said the people of Akamkpa have endured darkness and unsafe roads for too long and that no company—public or private—would be allowed to undermine public safety and wellbeing through carelessness or indifference.
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