Residents of five local government areas in the Southern Senatorial District of Ondo State can now have a sigh of relief as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has inaugurated a 133KV transmission line and 133KV/33KV substantial at Ode Erinje in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state.
The people of the communities in the Southern Senatorial District have been living in darkness and business activities in the district have collapsed for the for the past 15 years when the power service provider in the state disconnected them from the national grid.
Subsequent governments have been promising the people to fix the power problem until Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) awarded the substation project in 2012 to solve the power problem in the district.
President Tinubu, who was represented by Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, said the power substation was part of the effort of his government to ensure sustainable development in Niger Delta region and stimulate the nation’s economy.
The President said: “We all know that the power supply for human activity is crucial to enhance socioeconomic development, increase income to family, create Jobs opportunity and bring people out of poverty.
“Therefore, the 132kv transmission line has capacity to generate uninterrupted efficient power transmission as bridge power gap and serve people of Okitipupa and his environs which was throw into darkness for the pass 15 years.
“As result of the commissioning, the scenario will now change to reactivate businesses for the success of our men and women.
“Now that government has done her part and fulfilled his promise it’s the turn and responsibility of the communities to fulfill their part by continue to protect this project against vandalism.”
In his address,the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku disclosed that the commission was able to complete the project because the people of the community protected the installations from being vandalized by criminals.
He also discovered that upon assumption of office, President Tinubu gave the commission a matching order that before his first year in office, the commission must complete some of the ongoing projects to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.
According to him, 2,000 communities in the Okitipupa, Irele, Ilaje and Ese-Odo local government Aaea of Ondo Southern Senatorial District. would benefit from the project.
Dr. Ogbuku said that the aim of the project was to serve urgent needs and to link Ondo South to the national grid after 15 years without power supply in the areas.
He said that the project was also aimed at complementing the FG’s effort in the power sector by improving power supply to Okitipupa, igbokoda and other neighbouring communities in Ondo South Senatorial District .
According to him, the power substation would have great impact on direct value chain in small and medium scale industries as well as creating job opportunities.
He said: “Our task remains to bridge the infrastructural gaps which have existed for far too long create the enabling environment for improved economic activities in the communities and across the Niger Delta.”
The traditional ruler of the host community, the Orungberuwa of Erinje Kingdom, Oba Fredrick Oladele Akinmoye appreciated the commission, promising that the people would continue to protect the installations from vandals.
He called on the state government to make it mandatory for the power service provider, BEDC, to provide prepaid meters for all customers in the district to avoid estimated billing which could lead to disconnection again.
The state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa appreciated President Tinubu and NDDC for the completion of the project, promising that the state government would assist in ensuring the protection of the installations.
Some of the residents, who spoke with newsmen, were excited about the new development as they said it would enhance their socio-economic activities in the entire senatorial district.
