Power
THE House of Representatives on Tuesday charged the Federal Ministry of Power to ensure the completion of the Olodumare Power Plant in Ile Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The charge followed the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by Rep. Ayodele Adefiranye (APC-Ondo)
Moving the motion, Adefiranye said that Federal Government embarked on the power project to electrify communities in Ile Oluji/Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo that had been experiencing persistent poor power supply.
He recalled that the project was awarded to Elektrint Nigeria Ltd. in 2005, through the then Ministry of Power and Steel to connect the communities to the national grid.
The lawmaker said equipment, including six 500kv transformers were installed at different locations in the communities.
He said concrete electric poles were erected in the communities, while high tension wire was laid across almost all the project locations.
Adefiranye expressed regret that the project had been abandoned as no effort had been made to complete it 18 years after it was initiated.
“If urgent steps are not taken to complete the project, the communities will continue to be in blackout and national resources expended on it thus far will come to waste.
“The project is at 70 per cent completion stage, and only requires minimal additional resources to make it functional to benefit the people of Okeigbo-Ajejigi-Kajola Bolorunduro-Awopeju-Orisunmibare Camp and Okealafia-Igbo Olodumare communities.
“Completing the project will boost economic activities in the area.
“Most companies and business outfits in the area currently rely on generators and the attendant increase in the cost of production is leading to high prices of goods and services,” he said.
After the debate on the motion, the house resolved that the power project be included in the 2024 budget and its funding prioritised.
Speaker of the house, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas mandated the Committee on Power to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Power to take necessary steps for immediate completion of the project.
Abbas directed the committee to revert to the house within four weeks for further legislative action. (NAN)
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September 26, 2023 @ 18:25 GMT|
Tags: Ayodele Adefiranye Tajudeen Abbas
