- The 7-year power failure has grounded socio-economic activities in the area.
- The projects, if implemented, would promote job creation, boost government revenue earnings and foster overall economic growth across the country.
The Ijebu Waterside Club (IWC) has called on the federal government to end the 7-year total collapse of electricity supply. The 7-year power failure has grounded socio-economic activities in the Ogun Waterside Local Government Area (OWLGA).
IWC, in a statement yesterday, made the call during a meeting with Senator Gbenga Daniel, the representative of the Ijebu East Senatorial Constituency that includes OWLGA. The President of IWC, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani, said the electricity crisis had impeded the socio-economic development of the critical agro-industrial hub in Ogun State.
Tijani highlighted several abandoned government projects that include the OK LNG, the Deep Sea Port, Laogo Resort, Gateway Industrial and Petro-Gas Institute (GIPI) in Oni, Iwopin Paper Mill, and a road contract linking Efire and Ayede-Ayila to Ondo State estimated at over N14 billion awarded when Mrs Kemi Adeosun was Finance Minister. Others include oil and gas related projects that, if implemented, would promote job creation, boost government revenue earnings and foster overall economic growth across Ogun Waterside, Ogun State and Nigeria.
According to IWC, the Nigeria Electricity and Gas Improvement Project (NIGEP), a World Bank-backed project in partnership with the federal government of Nigeria, had also been abandoned, further worsening the crisis in OWLGA.
“In 2010, the NIGEP offered a big ray of hope when the Federal Government completed works on the Omotosho 2x150MVA, 330kv power plant, and a proposal was made to construct a 2x150MVA, 330/132kv substation at the power plant and utilise the outgoing 132kv lines to feed neighbouring areas of the power plant. The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the World Bank subsequently decided that the proposed Omotosho-Agodo substation, a 45-kilometre 132kv double-circuit line project, would be executed to serve the people of OWLGA.”
While responding to the IWC delegation, Daniel noted that the electricity crisis of over seven years was unfortunate. He urged IWC not to get tired or frustrated but to look on the brighter side for the future generation.