AFCON Final: Bonny Island in Darkness as Residents Troop to Viewing Centres

Prided for its 24/7 electricity supply, Bonny Island was swamped in darkness due to power outage on a night many residents eagerly waited to watch the Final of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023.

Many parts of the island community were without electricity supply up till about midnight while some passed the night in gloomy darkness.

As an alternative, many residents, who spoke to Kristina Reports, said they had to resort to viewing centres to avoid missing the opportunity of watching the all-important match.

Curiously, reaching the Bonny Utility Company (BUC), which manages electricity distribution and water supply in Bonny, was not possible in the midst of the debacle.

Efforts by Kristina Reports to reach the spokesman of BUC was unsuccessful even as at the time of this report as he neither answered calls or responded to messages sent to his mobile line.  

The AFCON Final was between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Elephants of Cote’d Ivoire and ended 2-1 in favour of the Ivoirians at full time.  

Ephraim Akpan, who lives at Aganya Community told Kristina Reports that “we don’t have light and I have left the house to go and watch the match at De Cool Off Spot; that’s my saving grace”.

On his part, a resident of General Kurubo Bypass, popularly known as Mosque Road, who only identified himself as Beresiri, said “there is no light here. They took the light since 7pm and no hope in sight”.

Some of the residents told Kristina Reports that they had watch the AFCON Final at their churches, commending the pastors for being forthright with the vision of availing members and non-members the opportunity to watch the match.