Batibo, AES SONEL chronic blackout spot

Although it is not surprising any longer, Batibo inhabitants in the Northwest are not tired of being constantly irked by regular blackouts.

Blackouts for as long as 12 hours are quintessentially Batibo.

For Lucas Mbah, and Batibo MP Hon. Mbah Ndam, it has been a labour of hate with AES SONEL.

The MP usually makes no comment as soon as the electric lines go cold except to light up his candles.

"AES SONEL has failed us," he told The Green Vision at his Batibo residence. The regular power failure affects everyone across the district.

"It is not unusual for electricity to cut out," said Dr. Bijingni Pius Kuwoh, Director of Batibo District Hospital.

It is early morning and a patient lies on the operating table the theatre waiting for Dr. Bijingni.

"Fortunately, we have a stand-by generator," the surgeon added as he changed into his theatre gown.

In 2007, the lid on pent-up anger blew off and electricity consumers wrecked the provisional AES SONEL office in Batibo, yet that did not seem to encourage the power utility company to improve its services.

While power delivery remains epileptic and exasperating, CAMWATER's measly role alongside boosts the enthusiasm of Batibo people enormously.

Most of the villages in the Sub-Division (Bengang, Kuneck, Kokum, Kojei, Mefah) have turned to community projects for potable water, with Kuneck and Kojei already enjoying free water.

"Bengang has laid its pipes and only waiting for the catchment to be harnessed and a tank, and then we can say good-bye to CAM