Oghada – Following commencement of the rural electrification of some communities in Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode local government areas by Edo state government, inhabitants have called for timely completion of the project to boost socioeconomic development of the areas.
The inhabitants who are into agriculture and other businesses have been disconnected from the national grid for more than two years due to faulty transformers and other electronicals that hitherto supply power to the affected areas.
It was as a result, Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC) recently installed 2.5MV/3311VA transformers as part of the electrification, to boost power supply in Abudu, Oza, Oghada, Evbuobanosa, Iru, Uvbe, Ofien, Ugbeze, Ugoneki, Ago-Ogbeide, among other benefitting communities.
The EDSOGPADEC chairman, Kennedy Osifo during inspection of the installation said Governor Godwin Obaseki gave approval for the project to address the perennial power situation in the areas, which the people called for it speedy completion.
“for close to five years now, no light; it generator everybody are using, everybody.
“i mean we buy fuel everyday one, one thousand, because the generator serve the fridge, fan infact, it’s serve the whole house, one business owner at Oza community told The Nigerian Observer over the weekend.
At Oghada community, the people expressed doubts over the project completion within the next few years due to government beaurocracy, but however welcomed the project.
According to a farmer in the community, Mr Obigwe Okoh, the project was ‘completed’ from Abudu through to Evbuobanosa, and to the (stepdown) transformer, adding connection to other affected areas were yet to commence.
At the administrative headquarters of Orhionmwon local government area, Abudu, the Odionwere, Pa Mathew Ehioghae heaped praises on the Obaseki-led administration for the project, maintaining that the benefiting communities have long for this time after years without the public utility.
The Odionwere who spoke through the secretary, Mr Ogbeiwi Osili stressed the community had made frantic effort to address the problem, disclosing that arrangement between Abudu and Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) have reached advanced stage for powering of some “serviceable” transformers in the community.
“We already have three servisable transformers out of five that will be powered by BEDC after we finalize all necessary agreements soon”, Osili explained to our Correspondent in the area
It was however gathered that while the benefiting communities wait patiently for the power restoration, some of them have since volunteered to guard the newly installed equipments against vandals.
