Otunba Nicholas Tofowomo, Ondo South Senator-elect, on Thursday, visited Omotosho Power Station on a courtesy visit where he sought to know from the management of the company reasons his senatorial district is not benefiting from the power generation company despite being the host community.
During an interactive discussion with the management of the company, the senator-elect demanded to know the contributions of the power station and its corporate social responsibilities to the host communities since the day of commencement of operation in the senatorial district.
He sought explanation why immediate host Communities of the power station are in total darkness despite having electricity in their backyard.
Tofowomo said though, the visit was informal, but said he decided to pay the visit to have knowledge about the operation of the generation company and to consult the management to join hands with relevant stakeholders and the three tiers of government to end the blackouts in Ondo South with timeliness.
Although, he said he is informed about the magnanimous efforts of the federal government to restore electricity to the Senatorial District, but said the generation company has a role to play under the local content agreement for the host communities.
While responding to the visit, the MD/CEO, Omotosho Electric Power Energy Company Limited, under phase I, Engr. Tolu Dare, appreciated the Senator-elect for the visit.
According to him, he said the visit shows that Tofowomo is ready for work and will be productive to the good people of Ondo South.
He said their primary job function is to generate power and send to the national grid whereby the National Control Center at Oshogbo will transmit whatever they contributed to the grid to the electricity distribution companies who have responsibilities to give power supply to electricity consumers.
He said it is the job function of the Rural Electrification Agency and the Benin Distribution Company to ensure that host communities get supply of power.
He added that it is not the job function of the power station to do so.
Despite his emphasis that the power plant cannot give direct supply to immediate communities as they only generate energy and send to the national grid, he however explained that with the involvement of Tofowomo, and other stakeholders, “Omotosho community and its environs can still get electricity through the distribution facilities within the vicinity of Omotosho power station through government rural electrification project.
On his part, the MD/CEO of Omotosho Generation Company Limited under the NIPP/NDPHC, Phase II, Engr Idris Mohammed, commended the Bring Back Our Light Group (BBOL) in Ondo South, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele who their involvement according to him led to the intervention of the Federal Government whereby the Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria (NDPHC) in charge of the phase II of the power plant took over the repairs of the 33kva line in Ondo South which was an obvious responsibility of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
He said the power plant under phase II has contributed immensely beyond its corporate social responsibility to facilitate restoration of electricity back to affected communities in Ondo South.
He promised to give more comprehensive update whenever the senator-elect visit the power station formally after assumption of office .
On inquiry by pastor Akinrinlola Olumide why the upgrading and ongoing construction of 132 line from the power station to Okitipupa was temporarily stopped, he said the project is being embarked upon by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as such, he could not speak on that.
In attendance at the meeting were: Hon. Solomon Bitire; Elder Amos Fadope; Ilaje PDP Chairman, Pastor Omotehinse; Ese-Odo PDP Chairman Mr. Kola Hughah; Chief Kayode Akintomide; Oluleye Awoniyi; Efe Charity, the Senator-elect Media Crew led by Pastor Olumide Akinrinlola; Temola Oladapo Arogbo Niyi; Gbenga Fasole and Ayodeji Allen and a team of journalists led by Mr Babatope Okeowo.
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