Port Harcourt Women Take to the Streets: Protest Lack of Romance Due to Heat Cause by Prolonged Power Outages

Angry women in Port Harcourt took to the streets on Tuesday, protesting the alleged deprivation of romantic relationships with their husbands due to persistent heat caused by prolonged power outages from the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED).

The protest, led by women from Mile 2 and Mile 3 Diobu, unfolded with a mild drama as they marched through various streets, including Dim, Wokoma, Obaziolu, Egbuagu, Azikiwe, and Ojoto, before converging at the PHED office.

Carrying placards with bold inscriptions like ‘No Light No Payment,’ ‘The Heat is too much,’ and ‘PHED Give Light, No Bills,’ the women voiced their concerns over the alleged poor power supply, emphasizing the challenges they face, including the inability to preserve cooked foods and the negative impact on their businesses.

In addition to their grievances, the protesting women highlighted the triple burden of paying high estimated PHED bills, spending substantial amounts on generator fuel, and being denied romantic relationships with their spouses due to the prevailing heat.

The women expressed dissatisfaction with the jumbo estimated bills, stating that they refuse to pay for darkness. They warned of the possibility of re-mobilizing for another peaceful protest if the situation does not improve.

As of the filing of this report, no official from PHED at their office in Mile 1 flyover had addressed the concerns raised by the protesting women. The situation remains tense, with the women determined to seek resolution to their grievances.