The Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation and Senator representing Ogun West, Senator Solomon Adeola, has lamented the prolonged power outages in some parts of Ogun State, saying that this has negatively affected owners of businesses, particularly micro, small and medium-scale enterprises that cannot afford the huge cost of alternative energy.
Adeola, popularly called Yayi, stated this in a statement on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Kayode Odunaro, and made available to journalists in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The lawmaker said that the cries of several residents of the state over this poor power supply have led him to kick off 12 electrification projects across the state to address some of these challenges.
He explained that ‘I have listened carefully to the cries of our people in Ogun West and adjoining parts of Ogun Central. The persistent power outages have crippled businesses and made life difficult for our people residing in many communities and settlements.
‘As their elected representative and apostle of the Renew Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I cannot fold my arms while my people and other resident Nigerians suffer in darkness.
Adeola disclosed that the electrification project interventions include the mobilisation and concluding negotiations with electrical engineering contractors over the weekend to undertake immediate critical rehabilitation, reconnection, and construction works, as well as the supply of transformers across the affected areas.
He listed some of these interventions to include reactivation of Ilaro to Ibese 33KV overhead lines, reactivation of Ibese to Dangote 33KV overhead lines, reactivation of (Dangote) Ibese to Joga 33KV Overhead Lines, reactivation of Isaga Junction to Ibara Orile and Isaga 33KV Overhead Lines.
Others are the supply and Installation of 500KVA 11/0.415KV transformer at Oniroko, Abeokuta, the supply and Installation of 500KVA 11/0.415KV transformer at Kings Dominion Street, Off Kuforiji Olubi Road, Saraki Area, Adigbe, Abeokuta, the construction of a dedicated 33KV Feeder to Ilaro Township from Papalanto Transmission Station, among others.
The Senator said that the intervention represents part of a comprehensive and sustained power infrastructure rehabilitation programme designed to ensure reliable and equitable electricity supply across all communities within Ogun West and adjoining areas.
He added, ‘Electricity is the backbone of industrial and social development. By addressing these power challenges, we are restoring hope, reviving local economies, and creating an enabling environment for business growth’.
Adeola appreciated residents for their patience and understanding during the blackout period, assuring them that the current intervention will bring visible and measurable improvements in power supply within the shortest possible time.
