Senate Sympathizes With Ondo Communities Over 14 Years Blackout, Urges NDDC To Speed Up Work

By Ayodele Oni

As communities in Ondo state groan for 14 years over lack of electricity supply, the Senate on Tuesday urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to complete the installation of a transmission power substation in Okitipupa Local Government.

The completion of the substation is expected to restore electricity to communities in Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Okitipupa, Irele and Odigbo Local Governments areas of Ondo State.

The Lawmaker representing Ondo South, Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, had in a motion on Tuesday at the red chamber on the urgent need to restore electricity supply to the affected councils before the end of the year, urged the NDDC to complete the outstanding work on the transmission substation so that electric power supply would be available before the end of the year.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator pointed out that the Senatorial District of Ondo South is hosting the Omotosho Power plant in Okitipupa Local Government with a capacity of 512.8MW and 451MW Net since 2005 without the people from the Local Government and a large percentage of people from the Senatorial District benefiting from the distribution of electricity from the power plant.

While expressing dissatisfaction about the 14 years blackouts in his Senatorial District at Senate plenary, Senator Tofowomo described the situation as embarrassing and despicable.

“The situation is embarrassing and despicable because I continue to wonder if Ondo South is part of Nigeria because suffering from electricity blackout for about 14 years has grounded many economic activities in the district.”

“Ninety percent of my people have been deprived of electricity power supply since 2007 which is about 14 years of uninterrupted darkness.

“The District is hosting the Omotosho Power plant in Okitipupa Local Government with a capacity of 512.8MW and 451MW Net since 2005 without the people from the Local Government and a large percentage of people from Ondo South benefiting from the distribution of electricity by the power plant.

“The Intervention came in 2012, about nine years ago by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) when a contract of 132KV transmission and 132KV/33KV substation and line was awarded in Okitipupa Local Government.

“As of today, 85 percent of the job has been completed and all the 145 Transmission Line Towers from Omotosho Power Station to the Sub Station has been completed.

“The Substation outstanding works remain 15 percent which can be accomplished without delay if all the necessary types of machinery are put in place, the substation can be ready for transmission to the federal feeders in Irele, Odigbo, Ilaje, Ese-Odo and Okitipupa Local Governments within the shortest possible time so that electric power supply would be available before the end of the year.”

The Lawmakers in their responses, appreciated the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for taking up the responsibility of installing a transmission substation in Okitipupa Local Government that would supply electricity to the affected areas.

They however urged NDDC to complete the remaining 15 percent work on the transmission substation within the shortest possible time so that electric power supply would be available before the end of the year 2021.