Guardian Nigeria
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• Over 2,000 communities to benefit from project, says NDDC
In a bid to restore electricity to Ondo South Senatorial District after years of blackout, President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated 132KV transmission line and 132/33KV substation in Ondo State.
The N8.1 billion substation, situated in Ode-Erinje, Okitipupa Local Council of the state, had for over five years been under construction by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) following the inability of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to rectify the problem.
Communities in Okitipupa, Ilaje, Irele, Odigbo and Ese-Odo councils, which had been without power supply for over 14 years, will be reconnected to the national grid after the completion of the substation.
Tinubu, during the inauguration of the project, represented by the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, said that the newly-commissioned transmission line would enable the generation of adequate and uninterrupted electricity supply within the axis, thereby enabling small and medium businesses to strive and as well as providing job creation for the people.
On his part, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, said that the project would provide electricity for over 2,000 communities in five local councils of the state and also boost the economy and development of those communities.
Ogbuku said: “For these agriculturally rich areas, this will boost the local economy and facilitate more food production, processing, and transportation. It is expected to be a catalyst for the development of the areas, Ondo State, and the region.”
In his address, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa emphasised the transformative benefits of the project to include job opportunities, new investments, better healthcare, and overall socio-economic development.
He said: “Our administration is committed to promoting collaboration with organisations with expertise and knowledge that can complement its efforts in advancing the energy sector.
“To this end, our government has been engaging with power companies, technology providers, regulatory bodies and other stakeholders to generate innovative solutions towards enhancing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution in the state.”
