The Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has concluded plans to inaugurate the 132/33kv electricity sub-station at Ode-Erinje in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Commission explained that the plan would include the handover of the sub-station to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, for operational management.
The Commission stated: “This milestone achievement follows closely on the performance bond recently signed by the Commission with the Ministry of Niger Delta Development.
“When operational, the electricity sub-station will illuminate over 2,000 communities across five local government areas within the oil-producing region of Ondo State, significantly impacting lives by ending decades of darkness.
“The scope of the power project covers the evacuation of light from Omotosho with a step down at Ode-Erinje, Okitipupa, through a 132KV double circuit transmission line with two 30/40MVA transformers.
“The transmission lines running through Ode-Erinje, Okitipupa, pass through 145 electricity towers” it added.
However, the NDDC clarified that due to the delay of the project over the years, the distribution lines, low-tension distribution network and relief transformers had been vandalised and they needed total rehabilitation.
To hook up the power lines to the injection sub-station and enable the benefitting communities to enjoy electricity from the national, the Commission confirmed that though it the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) was responsible for the rehabilitation of the distribution network, it had awarded a contract for the total rehabilitation of the distribution network and that it would be completed soon.
It would be recalled that in July last year, the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, had assured the then Acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, that extensive works were ongoing on the 132/33kv electricity sub-station to ensure its commissioning and effective handover to TCN.
Aiyedatiwa commended the commission on the progress recorded on the project and appealed for the extension of the distribution network to reach Ilaje Local Government Area in view of the significant impact the extension would have on the region.
The NDDC boss promised: “We assure all stakeholders in the Niger Delta of our commitment to tying up the loose ends and ensuring the inauguration and official handover ceremony to TCN“.
