The Nigeria Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is gearing up to unveil a 132/33KV electricity substation in Ode-Erinje, Okitipupa, aiming to put an end to the 15-year-long blackout in Ondo South Senatorial District.
With the inauguration set for later this April, the substation is anticipated to illuminate over 2,000 communities across the five local government areas.
Victor Antai, the NDDC executive director, highlighted that the completed electricity substation is already integrated into the national grid, emphasizing its significance as a transformative project that will stimulate economic growth in Ondo State and enhance the quality of life in the beneficiary communities.
Antai reiterated the NDDC’s commitment to providing electricity to the oil-producing communities that have endured a lack of power for the past 15 years.
He said that the sub-station will be inaugurated later this month.
“The power sub-station is a legacy project which is in line with the directive of our Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, to see to the completion and commissioning of legacy projects that will have meaningful impact on the lives of our people.
“The MD/CEO has also directed that we replicate this legacy project across all states in the Niger Delta, and we thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving the NDDC a performing Governing Board that has the interest of the people at heart.
“We are committed to lighting up all the local government areas and the oil-producing communities in Ondo South Senatorial District.
“This is part of NDDC’s mandate to provide infrastructure and development projects in the Niger Delta region. The commission is committed to fulfilling this mandate by completing all ongoing projects,” he said.
Mr Antai stated that the power sub-station would provide electricity to over 2,000 communities across the five local government areas within the oil-producing region of Ondo State, significantly impacting lives by ending decades of darkness.
The executive director, Projects, noted that the NDDC had also awarded contract for the total rehabilitation of the distribution network because it was eager to hook up the power lines to the injection sub-station and enable the benefiting communities to enjoy electricity from the national grid.
Benson Obayelu, who spoke for the contracting firm, said that the scope of the power project covered the evacuation of light from Omotosho Power Station with a step down at Ode-Erinje, Okitipupa, through a 132KV double-circuit transmission line with two 30/40MVA transformers.
According to him, the transmission lines run through Ireje with 145 electricity towers that are standing on concrete foundations.
He observed that five local government areas in the Southern Senatorial district of Ondo State that have been without public power supply would be connected when the project was inaugurated.
In his remarks, Dr Obafemi Ogbaro, acting national chairman of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria, TROMPCON, said that nothing mattered more to the people in Ondo South Senatorial District than being connected to the national grid
Also, the Ondo state representative on the NDDC board, Otito Atikase, observed that several communities across the five local government areas in the oil production belt of Ondo State were eagerly waiting for the lights to be turned on in their localities.
He said that access to electricity was essential for economic development and improving the quality of lifefor people.
Mr Atikase said that a lack of electricity had hindered growth and development in many communities in the Niger Delta region.
“NDDC’sefforts to provide electricity to these communities will have a significant impact on their lives and contribute to the overall development of the region,” he said.
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