BY Taiwo George
They saw it coming but did not know the exact manner that it will take.
Having spent decades at the Egbin housing estate in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, the retirees of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) knew that their new host no longer wanted them but they least expected a cruel eviction.
In November 2013, the federal government privatised Egbin Power Plant, the largest power-generating station in Nigeria with an installed capacity of 1320 MW consisting of 6 Units of 220MW each, handing it over to the core investor, a joint venture between Sahara Power Group and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).
At the time of that privatisation, the residential quarters were occupied by staff of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), staff of the Egbin plant and PHCN retirees. However, few months after taking possession of the facility, the new investors issued a quit notice to the retirees.
The residents refused to comply with the notice, arguing that the conditions of service accorded them the privilege to acquire the property. The matter ended up in court.
“They took us to court but when they observed that we were going to win the case, they decided to take the laws in their hands by attempting to forcefully eject us from our houses,” said Ebenezer Omonijo, one of the retirees.
“I have been staying in this house for the past 30 years and the condition of service states clearly that we should be the first to be considered when they want to sell it.
“The houses have been sold on ‘owner-occupied basis’ all over the country; at Ijora power station, all the houses there were sold to their staff. At Bourdillon in Ikoyi, the houses were also sold to staff; the same thing happened in Ikeja.”
But Dallas Peavey, chief executive officer of Egbin Power Station, dismissed the claim of the retirees, describing them as “illegal occupants” posing danger to the facility.
“The illegal occupants are not documented and this is a huge risk in an enclosed environment,” he said.
“Already, outcome from investigations into some criminal activities at the housing estate have been linked to these illegal residents and their collaborators.
“They continue to harass our staff and issue threats of major disruptions to the facility. This unfortunate development portends grave danger that is capable of decimating recent progress in the power sector.
“Some of the former PHCN staff, most of whom have either retired or have been transferred about eight years ago, have refused to vacate the estate after being served quit notices for over two years now.
Samuel Ojo, chairman of the association of retirees residing in the estate, said the management of the plant, contracted hoodlums to attack them and destroy their property.
“I was away from home on October 2 when I received a call from one of my children that heavily-armed men had laid siege to my residence,” he said.
“I rushed home and met an unusual scene in front of the place where me and my family had been residing for over 30 years. I saw hefty men with guns, cutlass, charms, putting on black surrounding the building and I challenged them on what their mission was.
“One of my children told me that they had disconnected our light, so I called the man in charge to find out why and he said I had not seen anything yet.
“Not long after, they climbed the roof and started destroying it. We did all within our power; we appealed to them but they continued threatening to deal with us.
“Ever since that time, we have been left at the mercy of the rain. Most of our property were destroyed and we have been wondering that even if they wanted us out, is this the right approach?”
But kola Adesina, chairman of the power station, blamed the intrusion on the security situation in the country, saying his staff knew nothing about the attack.
Victoria Omonijo, one of the affected persons, disagreed with him.
“How can they say that when all these things are traceable?” She asked in anger.
“The thugs came in five coaster buses with registration numbers BOG 611 X G, FG 970 P41, APP 415 X D, and KRD 54 X P.
“They carried more that 50 ladders and one of them even forgot his ladder here. Our people saw two of their staff – Victor Udom and Kehinde Ishola – when they were hiring the ladders. They can never deny it.”
Adesina insisted that his staff were not behind the incident, saying he would not join issues with retirees who were “being driven by personal interest”.
He said the government had paid them their entitlements but greed will not let them do the right thing.
“Most PHCN staff were disengaged in 2013 and the money that government collected by way of acquisition cost from companies that bought the successor company, went to the retirees of PHCN,” he told TheCable.
“They were paid their benefits. Now, after an evaluation process, we kept those we thought we still needed in the system.
“Suddenly, retirees of PHCN said they were not leaving and we all wondered why they wanted to stay back in an estate that is not theirs; they are just after their personal interest.
“Self-interest is the principal problem that we have in this country. Look at the situation, you are a retiree, your services are no longer required. We need fresh hands, young engineers that are coming on board, where do you want them to stay? Now, if we sell those assets to them, will their conscience not prick them?
“The new people that are coming on board, where will they stay? Do you expect them to be coming from Lagos mainland, Lagos Island or wherever to a facility that might need urgent attention in the middle of the night?
“They have exhausted every moral right to be on that site. I legally bought the asset.”
Joe Ajaero, leader of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), issued a two-week ultimatum to the company to pay compensation to those whose property were destroyed, including some of the plant workers, if it does not want its activities to be dsrupted.
“We are giving the company two weeks ultimatum to repair the quarters and make it habitable,” he had said.
The ultimatum has now elapsed while the court has adjourned the matter to December 8.
For now, the retirees, whose fate is hanging in the balance, are seeking justice, while the management of the company remains eager to reclaim what it calls its property.
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