… And there was light in Issele-Uku

FOR seven years, total darkness was over the deep surface of Issele-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha North Local Council of DeltaState. Just as God commanded when he said let there be light, there was light in the community recently. What a bright and sunny light it was after a long and tortuous journey by locals in the agrarian community, some 20 minutes drive from the state capital, Asaba.

After a long period of groping in the dark, hope was finally rekindled, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Chairman of the Council, Mr. Chukwugoziem Oseme and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

Oseme savoured every moment of the watershed occasion as the Commissioner for Energy, Mr. New World Sefugha, who stood in for Governor IfeanyiOkowa led Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Monday Igbuyah, the Managing Director of BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu to re-commission the electrification of the town.

In a way, it was a new beginning considering the fact Issele-Uku, hometown of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshall Paul Dike and indeed the entire local council had been in total darkness in the last seven years. The rolling out of drums, the commemorative dance by the local troupe and the enthusiasm of the locals, who trooped out in their thousands to witness the event, captured the essence.

For the townspeople, hope of returning home after a hard day’s work and switching on their electrical appliances was forlorn. Practically cut from 21st century civilization where electricity plays a critical role, it was a rat race as the humming of power generating sets by the few who could afford them was the order of the day.

In his quest to actualize the feat, Oseme had in December 2014 set up the Local Council Action Committee on Power and Energy, a
determination which gave birth to the Council’s partnership with BEDC, which has eventually crystallized in the illumination of the community.

Though silent on the exact cost of the project, the chairman said that he had just begun. He vowed that the paradise lost some seven years ago would soon be regained as he was determined to restore light to other far-flung communities in the council. He said he had to start with Isele Uku first as it is the council headquarters and the commercial nerve centre.

Osibodu remarked that the issue of limited power available in the country has resulted in massive load shedding across the country but that of Aniocha North Council was mind-blowing when one considers the fact that there was a total breakdown as it was excised from the national grid.

Osibodu succinctly puts it: “Simply put, some primary one to two pupils from these areas may not have witnessed electricity without being accompanied by the noise of a generating set. Monies that would have been used to pay for school fees, provide for other life necessities, and develop the communities are being used to continuously run these generating sets, where they exist.”

Tracing the genesis of his encounter with Osemene, the BEDC Managing Director recalled that when the Chairman turned up in her office one hot afternoon, three months ago in Benin City he simply labeled himself as “one customer” but little did she realize the world she was letting herself into. It was a world of darkness, anger and frustration.

Osibodu explained that BEDC has the responsibility to distribute purchased power to the four states of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti,
noting that its present capacity to distribute power is at least five times what is currently being used.

She said that the electricity company’s allocation of power from the grid is, however, 9% of power generated in the country, to be used to service its over 750, 000 customers who increase daily.

She remarked that in addition to various plans to increase available power through the grid by the Federal Government, BEDC is currently working with various parties on embedded on/off grid electricity, hoping that the quantum increase in power is expected to happen in the medium term.

The manager advised consumers: “The management of electricity consumption at all levels demand, with load shedding at BEDC level and demand side management at customers’ level. Please use your energy saving bulbs as well as other energy conservation methods to assist in reducing your consumption, save you cost and improve the amount of power available to all. Please switch off appliances when they are not in use.”

Oseme said that the epochal event was a promise made in the heat of electioneering campaign and was mighty glad that it had been fulfilled, lamenting that in other parts of the Big Heart State, people have grown up having access to electricity all their lives so they naturally have little idea what it must be like not having it at all.

The Chairman bemoaned: “For the past seven years, the people of Aniocha Local Council have spent fortunes on diesel and fuel generators to have electric light and power. And for many of us, the cost of purchasing and running a generator is way beyond our reach. And so, here in Issele-Uku as well as other communities across the council, people have grown up dependent on kerosene lamps and lanterns and have learnt to do without the electrical appliances that have revolutionalized household chores everywhere.”

Continuing, he wailed that the economy of the council had been adversely hit by the continuous lack of power, a development which he emphasized is evident in the mass exodus of youths from the various communities to urban centres, resulting in economic collapse.

The Chairman enthused: “We care that you didn’t have access to power; that many of you couldn’t afford generators; that your businesses were filled with dim lights from candle power and kerosene. We care that our youths are roaming the streets jobless without power supply in the communities and the economic opportunities that come with it. We care. We acted and now we have delivered. And I am humbled by the number of people who have come up to thank us and have told me how much this commitment meant to them.”

Oseme rounded off: “All of us can detect a sense of real excitement in the air here today as we power Issele-Uku community for the first time in seven years. I am convinced that the future holds a promise that is limitless if we can harness the power generated to deliver our new democracy and the new Aniocha Local Council.”