rom John Adeleye, Ado-Ekiti
The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, yesterday commissioned the 3.6 megawatt Ekiti Independent Power Project (IPP) to boost power supply in Ado Ekiti.
Performing the commissioning at the project site located on Bank Road, Ado Ekito, the state capital, Oyebanji said the project would help alleviate power challenges faced by residents and business offices as well as boost economic activities and industrialisation process.
Oyebanji, who described the IPP project as a game changer, said the project is a testament to his administration’s commitment to self-sufficiency of energy aimed at bringing about rapid industrial development of the state through enhanced economic activities and employment opportunities that would lead to growth and development.
The Governor, who emphasized the importance of the project in meeting the growing energy demand of the state, while reducing dependence on the national grid, said his administration has put in place series of measures to put an end to the ugly situation of epileptic power supply in the state.
He explained that his government has rehabilitated and reconnected Gbonyin/ Aiyekire and Ekiti East 33KV line to the national grid, evacuated energy from the 30MVA transformer at the TCN facility at Omisanjana to the Industrial and Tourism zone of Erijiyan and Ikogosi, extension of electricity to the Agric. Processing Zone in Iyemero from Eruku in Kwara State as well as rehabilitation of 33KV network from Ilumoba to Ikole Ekiti as against the former connection to Omu-aran feeder, among other interventions in the power sector.
The Governor also said that his government has been able to increase the commercial hours of the state capital by changing the conventional streetlight lamps to solar lamps to improve economic activities in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, while efforts are being put in place to replicate same across the local government areas.
While appreciating the management of Fenchurch Power Limited for the timely delivery of the project, Oyebanji used the opportunity to call on investors in the power sector to come and invest in Ekiti, especially meter vendors who could take advantage of the electricity law which provides opportunity for independent meter vendors to supply to willing customers.
The Governor urged residents of the state to see all electrical facilities in their domains as their properties and to jealously guide and protect them from vandalization. He also assured that he will not rest until energy, which is the bedrock of industrialization, is in abundant supply to support the productive energy of the people.
“It is my great pleasure to be here today to commission the first ever Independent Power Project (IPP) in Ekiti State. Today’s event is another testimony to our unstoppable race to greatness as a people and a homage to determination to succeed in the face of daunting challenges”
“This project is a major pointer to the fact that we are on course. And we will not rest until energy, which is the bedrock of industrialization, is in abundant supply to support the productive energy of our people.
“I also wish to urge our people to see all electrical facilities in our communities as our properties and to jealously guide and protect them from vandalization. This way, the ongoing investment in the power sector will bring the desired shared prosperity result to our people. For us, we are irrevocably committed to the rapid industrial development of Ekiti for employment and growth”. The Governor asserted.
End.