132KV TRANSMISSION POWER STATION IN OKITIPUPA: NDDC INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR, EFFIONG AKWA GUARANTEES EARLY COMPLETION OF PROJECT, COMMENDS BENSON OBAYELU’S EFFORT & COMMITMENT
The Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Effiong Akwa, has assured the people of Ondo State the quick completion of the N6billion 132KV transmission power station and 132/33KV sub station, which is being constructed in Igodan-Lisa along Erinje road, Okitipupa Local Government area of Ondo State.
The power station which is purposely to cover five local governments of Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Okitipupa, Irele and Odigbo in the southern part of Ondo State.
The project was inspected yesterday, Thursday 29th April, 2021 at about 3:30pm by the Interim Administrator of the NDDC, Mr. Effiong Akwa in accompany with the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his Deputy, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Ondo State Secretary, Princess Oladunni Odu.
Others are Minister of State on Niger Delta, Senator Tayo Alasoadura, Chairman House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, former Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Funso Esan, Ondo State Commissioners, NDDC Directors and stakeholders from Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Governments.
Speaking during the inspection, the NDDC Interim Administrator, Mr. Effiong Akwa, said he was excited that the Commission was constructing a huge power station in the oil-producing area of Ondo state. He further stated that it was one of the key projects NDDC is proud of among the 9 Niger Delta States.
The NDDC boss assured that more funds would be made available to the contractor within two months starting from next week, to guarantee early completion of the project. He also commended the effort of the indigenous contractor, Mr. Benson Obayelu, for his commitment and determination to complete the project in no distant time and deliver for use.
Also speaking, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who commended the NDDC, expressed delight that over 2,000 oil-producing communities spread across five local government areas of the southern part of Ondo State will benefit from the laudable project, noting that the area has been in black out for over 12 years. Akeredolu also commended Mr. Effiong Akwa for creating time out of known and personally appear to inspect the project, noting that the visit offered him the opportunity to see how far the contractor has gone on the project
“We must look at how we can strengthen the Commission to deliver on its mandate. We need to encourage and support NDDC to do more for the people of the Niger Delta region”.
“For us, this is the most important project NDDC is executing in Ondo State. If you deliver this project, you will have delivered the whole of Ondo South from the pains of lack of public power supply. All of us will be happy with you and the economy of the area, which had been crippled for many years, will begin to boom.”
The Managing Director of Stedy Engineering Ltd, who handles the project, Mr. Benson Obayelu, said the inspection by the NDDC and Ondo State Government was very significant because it underscored the importance of collaboration between the various agencies of government.
Obayelu said that the NDDC sub-station would be fed from NDPHC power station in Omotosho, which, according to him, was grossly underutilized.
“We have four turbines at the station, but at the moment we are firing only one, while the rest are idle.”
He further observed that the southern senatorial district of Ondo state represents the core economic base of the state as it is the oil-producing area, lamenting that the absence of public power supply in the area had strangulated the state’s economy in the past 12 years.
Obayelu finally pleaded to NDDC for variation on the project and also requested for the support of the Ondo State Government considering the present exchange rate of dollars to naira.
“NDDC must look inward and approve variation because the project was awarded when 1 dollar was N199 but now 1 dollar is more than N450. So, the loss which has been incurred because of the increment in dollars while importing materials must be paid for by the NDDC. Obayelu said.
