By Rufus Ibebe
LAGOS JULY 29TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Urhobo communities of Ughelli North local government area of Delta state have been thrown into darkness for over five days as a result of misunderstanding between indigenes of the communities and Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited, a subsidiary of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc responsible for generating electricity in the area.
Urhobotoday gathered that trouble started when the management of Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited who took over the power station from PHCN as a result government privatization policy asked residents of the communities who have been exempted from paying light bill to pay light bill.
It would be recalled that before September 25, 2012, when Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited (TUPL) won the bid for the acquisition of Ughelli Power Plc, the three host communities namely Eruemokowharien, Ekrerhavwe and Ekakpamre have not been paying light bills to PHCN.
Thus, the refusal of the host communities to yield to the request of the management of Transcorp had resulted in the company not distributing power to the above mentioned communities and their neighbouring communities.
Apart from the host communities, other communities that have been thrown into darkness for the past five days are Ekiugbo, Iwhreko, Ododegho and some part of Ughelli main town.
Urhobotoday nvestigation however revealed that the host communities in return have asked Transcorp to renew the lease agreement they have with PHCN hence the former has expired or vacate their land.
All effort to get to the management of Transcorp Ughelli Power Limited or indigenes of the affected communities to explain development so far taking was abortive non of them were willing to attend to Urhobotoday correspondent.