Ag. MD/CEO of NDDC. Professor Nelson Brambaifa. |
The
Acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Prof
Nelson Brambaifa, has pledged to commission a pilot power project that will
restore electricity to Ubima and Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area of
Rivers State before the end of the month.
Prof. Brambaifa
gave the assurance when he paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Supreme
Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers, Eze Blessing Wagor, Nye-Nwe Ali Isiokpo
in his palace. He was accompanied by the NDDC Acting Executive Director,
Finance and Administration, Dr. Chris Amadi, and other directors of the
Commission, who were on inspection of projects in Ozuoba, Omagwa, Ubima and
Isiopko.
Prof Nelson
Brambaifa said that he was shocked to learn that the Ikwere kingdom had been
without public power supply for over two years. He described it as “anomalous
and absurd,” stating that the situation needed to be corrected urgently, as
part of a region wide intervention in communities of the Niger Delta
region.
The NDDC boss said
that the Commission is determined to face challenges of development, to improve
the lives of the people. "We swung into action immediately to address
these challenges, because the people of the Niger Delta region deserve
better."
One of the electrification sites. |
He appealed to the
traditional rulers and benefitting communities to ensure that the electricity
infrastructure in their areas were protected from vandals and thieves.
In his own remarks,
Dr Chris Amadi stated that the communities alerted the NDDC to the deplorable
power situation in the area, adding that "for two and half years, the
Ikwerre people lived without electricity."
Dr Amadi stated: “I
am happy to announce that work has started in earnest in Ubima and Isiokpo. In
fact, the contractor has assured us that the electrification project will be
completed before the end of this month.”
The Traditional
Prime Minister of Isiokpo, Chief Wobo Amadi, who spoke on behalf of
the Nye-Nwe Ali Isiokpo, said that the NDDC had shown that it could
be relied upon for development projects. He said the people were particularly
impressed by the prompt action by NDDC, saying to Professor Nelson
Brambaifa:“You are a man of your words. You have done so much in three months
and we are confident that you will do more.”
NDDC Management team. |
He
expressed delight that their agony from many years without electricity would
soon be over and pledged that the communities which are benefiting from the
NDDC would guard the projects "jealously and protect it from
vandalism."
The Managing
Director of Income Electrix Limited, Mr. Matthew Edevbie, the contractor
handling the project, explained that the entire Ikwerre Local Government
Area was going to be served by two sources of power; one from Ahoada and the
other from Rumuosi sub-stations. He added: “In Ubima, we have installed eight
transformers and within the next one week there will be power in the town.
“We are
appealing to the communities to safeguard the power infrastructure. The youth
leader in Ubima has promised us that our equipment and installations will be
protected from being stolen or vandalised.”
He charged the
people to realise that the power asset was being provided for their own good
and should, therefore, be secured. He urged them to also note that it was
important to pay for the power they consume to ensure that the providers were
able to sustain the service, adding that electricity supply was like a
commodity that should be paid for to guarantee continued service.
He remarked that
NDDC had made provision for the supply of some metres to be distributed free to
poor consumers in the community.
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