Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — As parts of its corporate social responsibility, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHED, has donated four truckloads of rice to cushion the effect of the stay-at-home directive arising from COVID-19 pandemic in four states.
The food items, according to the company is to support the palliative measures adopted by the Governors of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River and Rivers States against COVID-19 pandemic, which is threatening the existence of mankind around the world.
Speaking, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of PHED, Dr. Henry Ajagbawa, commended the pragmatic approach the four state governors took to curtailed the spread of COVID-19, in order to save the lives of people in the states, noting that the initiative was highly commendable.
Ajagbawa also commended the Governors for the restriction of movement in their various states, as a way of flattening the curve of the life threatening scourge that is ravaging the world.
“We wish to state unequivocally that PHED as an essential service provider, will support you by ensuring that power supply received from the national grid shall be distributed to all homes to enable residents feel comfortable while observing the stay at home directive.
“In supporting the palliative measures put in place by the State Governments, PHED has donated four truckloads of rice in fulfilment of its corporate social responsibility, one to each state”, he said.
The PHED boss added that all its staff have been trained on COVID-19 standard operating procedures (social distancing, self-protection, logistics etc) and provided with health protection gears, to enable them be at the frontline to ensure that electricity supply is stable during this period of lockdown in order to further support their effort.
“In our effort to stop the spread, several areas of our services have been automated to ensure that there are limited contacts with members of public, such as electronic payment of electricity bill, reading of meters, complaints, electronic communication via social media platforms, partial deployment of electronic invoices, and periodic sms.
“PHED will continue to work closely with the state governments and other relevant stakeholders in supporting their effort at curtailing the spread of the pandemic,” Ajagbawa said.
Receiving the truckload of rice on behalf of the Rivers State government, the Secretary to State Government, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, thanked the management of PHED for the donation.
“Let me accept this kind donation from PHED. I must say indeed that we are grateful that you’re identifying with our Governor, His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on these trying times.
“On behalf of the Governor and the Government of Rivers State, I must sincerely say a very big thank you to PHED and send the same message across to your MD and Chairman, let them know that Rivers State Government really appreciate this.”
In Akwa Ibom State, the Senior Assistant to the Governor on Projects, Prince Umoette, who received the truckload of rice, said that the donation showed the love that the management and staff of PHEDC have for the people.
“I used to think that PHEDC is all about electricity, I didn’t know that PHED is into other things like what they are doing today to support the state government in its effort to provide succour to the vulnerable people of the society,” Umoette said.
The management of PHED also distributed a truckload of rice each, to Cross River and Bayelsa state government simultaneously.
The truckload of rice was received in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Asu Okang, while in Yenagoa, it was received by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Bayelsa Government House, Dr. Peter Akpe, on behalf of Governor Douye Diri.
