By Ayodele Oni
The Ondo State Government has unveiled some of the efforts to cushion continued epileptic power supply being experienced by residents amidst incessant power outage in the country.
This is coming even as the State Government apologized to the consumers over the persistent blackout, blaming the situation on nationwide challenges in electricity generation.
The State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Johnson Alabi, who briefed journalists in Akure, expressed regret over the hardship being experienced by households and businesses, noting that the current power outage was largely beyond the state’s control.
“We sincerely apologise to the people of Ondo State for the hardship caused by the current blackout. This is a national issue driven by gas supply shortages, which has drastically reduced power generation across the country.”
He explained that the drop in electricity supply nationwide—from about 6,000 megawatts to roughly 2,000 megawatts—has significantly impacted distribution to states, including Ondo.
Despite the situation, the commissioner assured residents that the state government is intensifying efforts to provide lasting solutions through strategic investments in electricity infrastructure.
“As a government, we are not folding our arms. We are committed to improving power supply through deliberate interventions in transmission, distribution and generation,” Alabi stated.
He disclosed that the government has approved the procurement of about 15 transformers in the first phase to improve electricity distribution in underserved communities.
“We are deploying transformers in phases to ensure fairness and transparency. These are not just for distribution; we are also ensuring proper installation and energisation so that communities can truly benefit,” he added.
Alabi further revealed that the Ondo State Power Company has taken over key electricity feeders previously managed by legacy operators, a move he described as a “major step towards energy independence.”
“With the takeover of these feeders, we can now extend power supply to more communities and exercise better control over distribution within the state.”
On transmission, the commissioner disclosed plans by the state to construct its own power grid to reduce dependence on the national grid.
“We are already engaging private investors to build a state-controlled grid. This will allow us to take power directly and distribute it, relying solely on the national grid,” he explained.
He added that the proposed grid would link the southern and northern parts of the state, improving reliability and boosting economic activities.
Speaking on power generation, Alabi noted that the government is creating an enabling environment for private investors to establish power plants across the state.
“We have issued licenses to several investors and some have already commenced operations. Our role is to support them so they can generate power that will serve our people efficiently.”
The commissioner also highlighted the government’s commitment to consumer protection, revealing that over N101 million had been recovered for residents affected by estimated billing.
“We are determined to protect our people. Through our regulatory efforts, we have ensured refunds where consumers were overbilled.”
While appealing for patience, Alabi assured residents that ongoing engagements at both state and national levels would soon ease the current power crisis.
“We understand the impact on businesses and daily life. We appeal for patience as efforts are in top gear to stabilise supply. In the coming days and weeks, we expect significant improvement.”
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