Ondo State Government in partnership with the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN has set machinery in motion to resolve age long impediments against the completion of the 2 by 250 MVA sub-station at Obaile Akure, designed to improve power supply to the State and parts of Ekiti state.
The Commissioner For Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr Razaq Obe spoke while speaking with the press after a business meeting between management o the Ministry and that of TCN led by its General Manager Transmission, Osogbo, Engr Bakare Kassim in his office in Akure.
Engr Obe emphatically observed that the major issue against the early completion and energizing of the Akure sub station is the weigh in issues which is the resistance put up by Communities and owners of landed properties which disallowed the Transmission lines to pass through their lands or a section of the land or their properties.
In a Press Release issued by Director of Press of the Ministry Bolu Ajijo, the Commissioner averred that this problem has been the major impediment militating against early. According to him the transmission lines are designed to bring electricity from Osogbo in Osun and Ihibo in Edo States to Akure adding that this impediment has continued to stall the completion and the energizing of the Akure Sub Station that has been completed 2017
The Commissioner who was not happy with the human induced challenge was however confident that this issue will be put to be behind in the next few weeks judging by the high level of synergy between the Ministry and TCN officials.
It is instructive to note that both agencies have set up a joint assessment team made up of their technical Officers to do on the spot identification and assessment of the trouble spot areas along the right of ways of the turn – key project to ensure its amicable resolutions
Engr Obe who agreed with the TCN boss that successive Governments in the state have not done enough in the area of Community relations engagements with the company towards resolving with the communities and landed properties owners in favour of the project because of it’s long positive impact on socioeconomic growth and development of the state.
To this end the Commissioner said the Ministry has concluded plans to organize a stakeholders meeting of all concerns especially those within the geographical confine of the state once TCN oblige the Ministry with the authentic list of the affected target public adding that the State Government through the Ministry will then engage the stakeholders and educate them on the benefits of the project.
Speaking on the essence of the interface with the Ministry’s officials, the General Manager, TCN, Transmission Osogbo, Engr Bakare Kassim who was full of good words for Ondo State Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for the creation of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources described it as a good omen for the massive development of the energy sector which he said is critical for all round development. He also thanked the governor of Engr One as the Commissioner, this he said was a right step in a right direction considering his wealth of experience in the energy, oil and gas industry.
The TCN boss identified three factors such as; delays in completion of projects, vandalization of TCN facilities and lack of robust community relations and engagements before during and after the projects have been delivered.as the problems militating against the growth and development of the sector in the state.
While decrying the rising incidences of vandalization of TCN facilities in Ondo State axis such as towers, cables and sub stations like that of Oke Agbe Akoko that were burnt for no reason, Engr Obe said this has negatively impacted on supply end of electricity to the state especially Akure and the southern part of the state which has been in darkness for years.
He called for a change of heart towards the destruction of government properties often referred to as no man property. The TCN boss whose areas of jurisdiction covers Osun, Ondo parts of Oyo and Kwara states advocated the need for all rounds security checks and surveillance of TCN facilities, encouragement of community buying in/ownership and protection of power facilities especially by local security apparatus like Amotekun and hunters which he believes will put an end to this unpatriotic attitude amongst our people.
On effort being made by TCN to restore power to the Southern Senatorial Zone of the state from Ore in Odigbo to Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Areas, Engr Obe posited that once said the on going 2 by 150 MVA sub station being constructed by NDDC at Erinje in Okitipupa Local Government is completed permanent electricity will be restore in that very important economic belt of the state.
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