10 yr power outage: Ondo to restore electricity in Southern District

DAMISI OJO, Akure

Ondo State government has restated its resolve to reconnect the Southern Senatorial Zone that has been without electricity for over ten years to the national grid to boost their social lives and economic development.

The Commissioner for Energy, Mines and Mineral Resources, Engr Razaq Obe, gave the assurance after a meeting with the Ondo South Power Committee led by His Royal Highness, Oba Festus Olumoyegun, Oniju of Iju-Odo in Okitipupa Local Government Area and the consultant to the project, Engr. Idowu Desmennu, in his office in Alagbaka in Akure.

Underscoring the importance of power to human existence in modern society, Engr Obe described the situation where a strategic part of the state has been without electricity for nearly 14 years as very pathetic, absurd and unprogressive.

He, therefore, promised to convoke around the table for all stakeholders in the power sector which will include Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, Niger Delta Holding Power Company, NDHDC, Transmission Company of Nigerian, TCN, Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC together on to urgently solve this perennial power problem of the communities in the southern part of the for once.

While underscoring the importance of the southern senatorial areas to the economic development of the state, Engr Obe disclosed that one of the reasons the governor created the Ministry of Energy Mines and Mineral Resources was because of the need to speed up the reconnection of the zone to the national grid in a record time because he is tired of the usual excuses

Obe who said is prepared to step on toes to achieve the desired result in record time commended Ondo South Power Committee made up of eminent traditional rulers and other personalities for their untiring efforts towards Restoration of electricity to their areas and the Consultant Engr Idowu Desmannue for agreeing to delay its gratification until the is achieved

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Ondo South Power Restoration Committee, Oba Olumoyegun who went down the memory lane on efforts to restore power to the zone in the last 14 years highlighted the role played by former Governor of the State Dr Olusegun Agagu, and commended him for siting the mega Power Plant at Omotoso in Okitipupa local government area.

He also debunked the popular belief that the vandalization of electricity facilities in the zone was done by the people living in the zone.

According to Oba Olumoyegun the serial vandalization of electricity facilities in the southern part of the state as being the personnel of a particular Electricity Distribution Company operating in the area working in concert with their principal to frustrate efforts made by the government and committee to restore power to the zone.

The chairman affirmed the belief that the residents have lost faith in the ability of the electricity distribution company that won the franchise for the area to do it has failed several times to meet the aspiration of the to have light,  hence, their resolve to explore alternative means such by partnering the consultant to provide sustainable electricity for their people.

Speaking on the development, the consultant, Engr Desmannue assured the people that electricity would be restored to the area as soon as NERC its company’s application to buy and distribute electricity from NDPHC and TCN and sell to the area technically believed to be undeserved under the concept of willing buyers and ready sellers.

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