Friday, August 13, 2010

Chime lights up Enugu Communities

Chime lights up Enugu communities

Chris Oji 13/08/2010 07:25:00



GRASSROOTS people toil the year round but find it difficult taking their produce to the markets in the towns and cities. Why? Because their roads are often in utter disrepair.
When Governor Sullivan Chime took office, he promised to open up feeder roads. Now, he has kept faith with that developmental agenda. Feeder roads are being upgraded. Hitherto unlit communities are also being connected to the national grid

This was demonstrated when the governor commissioned the 33KVA Oji Substation Circuit Breaker and the Oji-Nachi Inter-Town Connection (ITC) network to improve quality of electricity supply to Udi and Ezeagu Local Government Areas.

The project, which was executed by the state government in partnership with Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) at the cost of N68m included the Construction/Installation of 33KVA circuit breaker and 7.2 kilometer route length of 33KVA Inter-Town Connection (ITC) Network from Oji Substation to Nachi.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Chime said the execution of the project was in line with government’s efforts to improve the number and effectiveness of PHCN facilities in rural areas and boost power supply in rural communities in the state.
Chime noted with satisfaction that the impact of the improved power supply is being felt by power consumers in the affected communities in Udi and Ezeagu council areas.



He commended the State Rural Electrification Board, officials of PHCN, the State Water Corporation and all the unseen hands that contributed in one way or the other to the successful execution and commissioning of the project.

Governor Chime then appealed to the people to protect the project, even as he said: "So long as we protect what we have and pay our electricity bills promptly, things will be better and government will continue to provide the people with the basic needs of life."

In his speech, the State Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Casmir Ugwu said the project was embarked upon to address the age-long epileptic power supply to communities in Udi and Ezeagu Local Government Areas from the 9th Mile Corner injection substation.

Ugwu explained that before now, some communities in the two local government areas used to connect light to the dedicated electric power line to Ajalli Owa and Oji River water intake pumping stations thereby increasing electricity demand on the line and resulting in water shortage in the state capital.

He said: "It is as a result of these disturbances on the dedicated line that the State Rural Electrification Board (REB) and the PHCN conceived this alternative route of supply from Oji River Power Station to supply light to these communities within the affected two local government areas."

He stated that the project was completed in March this year by the (REB) through direct labour and confirmed fit for energisation by the Ministry of Energy, Electrical Inspectorate Division in May. He thanked the PHCN and the state government for their support towards the execution of the project.

The Chief Executive Officer, Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), Mr. S.A. Yahaya in his brief remarks said with the commissioning of the electricity project and its improved quality and quantity of power supply, the socio-economic well-being of the entire people of Udi and Ezeagu council areas will improve greatly.

Yahaya used the occasion to appeal to electricity consumers in the area to reciprocate government’s gesture and help Enugu Electricity Distribution Company to serve them better. This, he said, they could do by protecting the power line from vandalisation and prompt settlement of their monthly electricity bills to sustain the power supply.

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