By Ayodele Oni
The implementation stage of the efforts to restore electricity supply to the Southern Senatorial District of Ondo State began on Wednesday as the Federal Government commissioned the Power Substation at Ode Erinje in Okitipupa local government area of the State.
This is coming almost 15 years after the entire area, comprising of six Local Governments were cut off from national grid.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, commissioned the 132KV transmission line and 132KV/33KV substation, bringing hope to residents who have endured nearly 15 years without electricity.
The Ode Erinje Power Substation, which draws its supply from the Omotosho Power Plant, is designed to illuminate over 2,000 communities spanning five Local Government Areas in the Senatorial District.
The project which started about ten years ago, was funded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), with support from the Ondo State Government.
The President emphasized that the project’s completion aligned with the administration’s focus on sustainable development and economic growth, highlighting the crucial role of reliable power supply in driving economy and revitalizing communities.
In his address, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, expressed his administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure and ensuring a permanent end to the prolonged blackout in the Southern Senatorial District of the state.
The Governor said: “Without doubt, today’s event is a testament to our commitment to sustainable electricity supply and ensuring a permanent end to 15 years of darkness in the Southern Senatorial District of the State.
Governor Aiyedatiwa noted the support and leadership of President Tinubu in making the project possible.
He lauded the role of the NDDC and its management under the Chairmanship of Mr. Chiedu Ebie and the Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, for their invaluable partnership and steadfast commitment to realizing the high-impact endeavour.
The Governor emphasized the transformative benefits of the project, including job opportunities, new investments, better healthcare, and overall socioeconomic development.
“Our administration is committed to promoting collaboration with organisations with expertise and knowledge that can complement its efforts in advancing the energy sector.
“To this end, our government has been engaging with power companies, technology providers, regulatory bodies and other stakeholders to generate innovative solutions towards enhancing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution in the State.”
The Governor urged the community to protect the infrastructure, highlighting the collective duty to safeguard the substation and allied facilities from vandalism.
Earlier in his opening address, the Chairman, NDDC governing board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, stated that the project is a key component of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, due to the critical role of electricity in achieving sustainable development in the state and in Nigeria at large.
In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, noted that Ondo State is one of the few states where NDDC projects remain free from vandalism. He commended the governor for maintaining a crime-free state.
