The House of representatives has expressed readiness to investigate alleged 14-years electricity blackout in some ondo communities.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Hon. Odimayo Okunjimi John during Wednesday’s plenary titled: “Need to Investigate the Electricity Blackout in Irele, Okitipupa, Ese Odo and Ilaje Local Government Areas of Ondo State”.
Presenting the motion, the lawmaker observed that since 2014, most communities in Irele Local Government Areas, such as Ode¬lrele, OdeAjaja, Akotogbo, lyesa, Ujusun, Ormi, Aturase, and Udogun and others in Okitipupa Local Government Area, namely, lgbotako, llutitun, lkoya, Ayeka, lgbodigu, lrinje, lgundan, ldobilayo, and Big road area of Okitipupa, and most communities in Ese¬Edo and llaje Local government area of Ondo State have been thrown into darkness, by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
According to him, life in these Local Government Areas is economically and socially dead as all major industries situated in the areas have either relocated to other areas that are conducive to their operations.
He stated: “Further disturbed that this has led to a massive loss of jobs for the locals, as it has adversely affected foreign exchange earnings by the Okitipupa oil mill, which is a major producer and exporter of Palm oil and its allied products in the area, the Ondo State University of Science and Technology Okitipupa, which is a major hub for most of the private businesses around the town is also caught in this web of protracted darkness as it is costing the institution so much of her scarce resources to provide power for its operations.
“Suffice it to say that the obvious consequences are that all small businesses and enterprises within the institution have either folded up or are struggling to survive and academic activities are seriously hindered as no meaningful learning and research work can be optimally done in such a depressive environment without light;
“Worried that with the above horrible situation prevailing in the area due to lack of public power supply, the people especially youths in the area are left jobless and this has led to many of them migrating to surrounding towns and cities in search of economic prosperity, while some take to crimes and unwholesome activities, as “an idle mind they say is the devil workshop;
The house, therefore, resolved, to mandate the Committee on Power when constituted to invite general manager/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BEDC to explain the reason for the electricity blackout in the communities.
It also resolved to invite Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to explain why Irele, Okitipupa, Ese Odo and Ilaje Local Government Areas were disconnected from the national grid and direct that they be reconnected back to it;
