N6 billion 132KV Transmission Line and 132/33KV Sub Station which it is
constructing at Okitipupa in Ondo State, to cover about 2,000
communities.
Speaking during an inspection of the project in the company of the
Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Mr Agboola Ajayi, the NDDC Acting
Managing Director, Dr Akwagaga Enyia, said she was excited that the
Commission was constructing “a huge power station” in the oil-producing
area of the state.
She said: “I was told that for some time, there was delay in the
progress of work at the site. When I came on board as the Acting MD, I
made sure that funds were released to put the project on fast-track.
That is why work is going on at a much faster pace now.”
Dr Enyia stated that it was one of the key projects with many months of
outstanding Interim Payment Certificates, IPC, which were cleared to
pave way for progress at the sites.
The NDDC boss assured that as more funds were made available to the
Commission, payment would be sustained to guarantee early completion of
the project, stating that the contractor had promised to complete the
project by the first quarter of 2020.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor gave kudos to the NDDC, stating that
the Commission had done well in spite of some challenges which were
expected in any organization, especially an interventionist agency.
He expressed delight that over 2,000 oil-producing communities spread
across five local government areas will benefit from the sub-station.
He advised: “We must look at how we can strengthen the Commission to
deliver on its mandate. We need to encourage and support NDDC to do more
for the people of the region.
Ajayi commended Dr Enyia for being the first NDDC Chief Executive
Officer to personally inspect the power station, noting that the visit
offered her the opportunity to see what NDDC was paying for.
He stated: “For us, this is the most important project NDDC is executing
in Ondo State. If you deliver this project, you will have delivered the
whole of Ondo South from the pains of lack of public power supply. All
of us will be happy with you and the economy of the area, which had been
crippled for many years, will begin to boom.”
The Deputy Governor emphasized that the project was very dear to the
hearts of the people, He, therefore, urged the NDDC and the Federal
Government not to relent until the project was completed.
In his own remarks, the Executive Director Engineering and Technical
Services, Niger Delta Power Holding Co Ltd., Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele,
said the inspection by NDDC was very significant because it underscored
the importance of collaboration between the various agencies of
government.
He said that the NDDC sub-station would be fed from NDPHC power station
in Omotosho, which, according to him, was grossly underutilized. “We
have four turbines at the station, but at the moment we are firing only
one, while the rest are idle,” he said.
Oyedele observed that the southern senatorial district of Ondo state
represents the core economic base of the state as it is the
oil-producing area. He lamented that the absence of public power supply
in the area had strangulated the state’s economy for 12 years.
He noted that the NDDC sub-station was a critical power infrastructure
for the people of the area because even when PHCN had energized the
Okitipupa power line, it would be largely ineffective until the NDDC
sub-station comes on stream.
Giving a brief of the project, the Managing Director of Stedy
Engineering Ltd, Mr Benson Obayelu, said that the scope covers the
evacuation of light from Omotosho with a step down at Ireje through a
132KV double circuit line with two 30/40MVA transformers at Okitipupa.
He said that the transmission lines run through Ireje with 145
electricity towers that are standing on concrete foundations. He noted
that all the materials needed for the project were already on site at
Okitipupa. The materials include 45 kilometres of wires and 240
kilometres of conductors.
He re-stated 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 completed.
A traditional ruler from Ilaje Local Government Area, Oba Oluwashegun
Akinyomi, thanked the NDDC for the intervention, noting that all hands
were on deck to deliver the project expeditiously.
He applauded NDDC for stepping in to resolve a prolonged electricity
problem in the oil producing communities.