NpowerNG suspends Device Collection in Rivers, Plans to have multiple Distribution Centres

#NpowerNGDeviceCollection

N-powerNG Device Collection suspended in Rivers

N-power, the job initiative of Nigeria's government, has suspended the further distribution of N-power Tablets in Rivers State.

The suspension is to allow N-power and its partners to come up with more collection centres across the state so as to make collection more easier for Rivers State Volunteers, and other states.

N-power tablets distribution started in Rivers September 6, 2017 with a single collection point for the entire state. Meaning every volunteer had to travel down to the state capital Port Harcourt to join thousands of other volunteers to pick their device.

Since it started, Nigeria police officers, who were on ground to provide security started taking bribe of N1000 and above before a volunteer was allowed in at L.A Kings hotel, venue of collection.

In a statement on its social media channels Saturday, September 9, 2017, Npower apologized to the affected beneficiaries ,promising to put measures in place to decentralize collection points.

The statement reads:

"First off, we apologize to the N-Power beneficiaries in Rivers State for the stress, long hours and hardship you have had to endure to get your devices.

This is not synonymous with the carefull planning N-Power is known for. We are very sorry.

We have called our stakeholders, the Bank of Industry and MTN back to the table so we can fashion a proper decentralized and more humane method for collection of device in the State.

So for those who are in Batch A and are yet to collect their devices, the distribution has been suspended.

We will be providing new information in a little while.

At all times, N-Power beneficiaries remain our greatest priority."

What the suspension means for other states

Distribution is currently in just three states: Lagos, Rivers, and FCT.

This means that other states would have smooth collection of their Tablets when it gets to them.

We believe that before then NpowerNG would have concluded arrangements on multiple collection points.

The slight challenges in the first three states would be averted in other states. 

In a related development, Rivers State volunteers have been urged to await further directive as regard collection of N-power Tablets in the state.

In a NPOWER VOLUNTEERS RIVERS STATE post, a dedicated Facebook Group for Rivers beneficiaries, a beneficiary and admin of the group Okah Chris Obinichi says:

"Please be informed that there will be no device distribution today Saturday 9/09/17 anywhere in Rivers State.

The contractors held a meeting with the State Focal Person, Mr Alwel Ihunwo awhile ago and have agreed that distribution will resume next. Date, time and venue will be communicated.

All those in Elekahia Stadium should adhere to simple instruction and go home to avoid confrontation with the Police"

Another volunteer who was at another proposed collection point, Bridget Ledogo, said "I was at Elekahia stadium today because I didn't receive the text that was sent in the night.

After waiting till 9 o'clock, we moved to La Kings and nothing was happening there too.

Some boys got angry, called a journalist from silver bird who came and video volunteers and he promised to cast it by 12, 4 n 9pm. Let's see what happens next"

N-power Device Collection will resume in Rivers State when more distribution centres have been created.