Ekiti Power Project To Accommodate Private Concerns, Begins Test Running

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Independent Power Project (IPP) which is currently undergoing test running, will be expanded to cover private concerns on a willing buyer, willing seller basis, Commissioner for infrastructure and public utilities, Bolaji Aluko has revealed.

The Commissioner said in Ado Ekiti that the project has been tested successfully for two weeks with 700kw distributed so far out of the total strength of 3.5megawatts and room for expansion.

Aluko added that the test covered Governor’s Office, Government House, State Secretariat Complex, House of Assembly Complex, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, (EKSUTH) and streetlights along major roads in the metropolis.

Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, explained that the power projecth is part of efforts at addressing the shortage of electricity supply to the State.

Speaking during a facility tour of the Power Plant Station in Ado Ekiti, the Commissioner said that the project initiated by the immediate past administration of Dr. Kayode Fayemi and completed by Governor Biodun Oyebanji, was one in the series of interventions to address inherent challenges in electricity supply to the State.

Olatunbosun stressed that the development was geared to boost industrialization and socio-economic development, as well as enhance good governance.

He noted that doing away with the hitherto ubiquitous generators with attendant huge cost of diesels and environmental pollution used to power public facilities like streetlights and government offices would block a lot of wastages.

Reiterating the commitment of the  administration to the general well-being of people in the State, Olatunbosun stated that the completion of the Power plant came in the heels of several other similar interventions including the restoration of electricity at Ekiti East and Gbonyin (Ayekire) Local Government Areas within his one year in office after fifteen years of blackout.

The Commissioner added that the tourism hub in Ikogosi, Erijinyan and Ipole-Iloro axis has also been connected back to the National grid through a dedicated feeder line from the 132/33KVA power substation at Omisanjana in Ado Ekiti after almost two decades of power outage.

He pointed out that it was the determination of government to boost the local economy and propel industrial development via robust growth of Small, and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in the State adding that government places a high premium on provision of stable supply of electricity across the state to serve as an impetus and a major boost to the growth of SMEs.

He appealed for the continued support of residents for Government’s efforts at developing the State and improving their lot, stressing the need for stakeholders to take ownership of public projects and ensure their safety.