Senate Moves to End 14 Years Blackout in Okitipupa, Ilaje, Odigbo, Others, Urges NDDC to Restore Electricity 

The Senate on Tuesday  urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to complete the installation of a transmission power substation in Okitipupa Local Government that would supply electricity to Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Okitipupa, Irele and Odigbo Local Governments of Ondo State immediately.

In a motion by the Lawmaker representing the affected Senatorial District of Ondo South, Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, over the URGENT NEED TO RESTORE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY to the affected councils before the end of the year, the Senate urged the NDDC to complete the outstanding work on the transmission substation within the shortest possible time so that electric power supply would be available before the end of the year.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senator lamented that the Senatorial District of Ondo South is hosting the Omotosho Power plant in Okitipupa Local Government with a capacity of 512.8MW and 451MW Net since 2005 without the people from the Local Government and a large percentage of people from the Senatorial District benefiting from the distribution of electricity from the power plant.

While expressing dissatisfaction about the 14 years blackouts in his Senatorial District at Senate plenary, the angry Senator Tofowomo described the situation as embarrassing and despicable.

Tofowomo said: “The situation is embarrassing and despicable because I continue to wonder if Ondo South is part of Nigeria because suffering from electricity blackout for about 14 years has grounded many economic activities in the district.”

“90 per cent of my people have been deprived of electricity power supply since 2007 which is about 14 years of uninterrupted darkness. The District is hosting the Omotosho Power plant in Okitipupa Local Government with a capacity of 512.8MW and 451MW Net since 2005 without the people from the Local Government and a large percentage of people from Ondo South benefiting from the distribution of electricity by the power plant.“

“The Intervention came in 2012, about 9 years ago by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) when a contract of 132KV transmission and 132KV/33KV substation and line was awarded in Okitipupa Local Government. As of today, 85 percent of the job has been completed and all the 145 Transmission Line Towers from Omotosho Power Station to the Sub Station has been completed.

“The Substation outstanding works remain 15 percent which can be accomplished without delay if all the necessary types of machinery are put in place, the substation can be ready for transmission to the federal feeders in Irele, Odigbo, Ilaje, Ese-Odo and Okitipupa Local Governments within the shortest possible time so that electric power supply would be available before the end of the year.”.