- Intensifies Measures To Improve Electricity Supply
BY PATRICK MGBODO
THE Delta State Government, today, appealed to Deltans to exercise patience as it works round the clock to address the abysmal electricity situation across the state.
For nearly one month, electricity supply across the state, and other parts of the country, has remained abysmally low, leaving homes, businesses and offices struggling without the power needed to sustain their operations and daily living.
Consequently, the Commissioner for Power and Energy, Engr. Ifeanyi Anoka said the state government is not going back on lighting up the entire State with adequate power supply.
Engr Anoka gave this commitment while addressing representatives of the Ndokwa nation who paid him a courtesy visit on the possibility of improving power supply in their region.
The energy commissioner explained that the State Government was working around the clock to ensure that power is adequately distributed across the nooks and crannies of the State.
While stating that the State was not relenting on its oars in ensuring improved power supply, he urged Deltans to be patient with the government, adding that data was already being collated across the State to properly address the issue of power shortage.
He noted that the power problem was not peculiar to Delta State, adding that he was currently visiting parts of the State for an on-the-spot assessment so that the issues could be tackled vigorously.
Anoka explained that the national grid project is a federal government project, but that the State, through the Independent Power Project (IPP), is working passionately to improve power supply.
The Power Commissioner noted that the Federal government was working assiduously to ensure the national grid is restored, adding that once that was done, the problem of power outage would be solved.
While addressing the Chairman of the Board of Delta Printing and Publishing Corporation (DPPC), publishers of The Pointer Newspapers, Pastor Austin Igbine, who was in the company of the General Manager, Mrs Rosemary Nwaebuni, to seek linkage to the State Independent Power Project (IPP), the Commissioner pleaded for a little patience as The Pointer was among the top list of government establishments awaiting connection.
For over three years, the IPP facility at The Pointer premises had been installed and prepared for linkage after the test running of the project, but has since been awaiting official connection.
With most government offices having left the public power source, which has not improved, The Pointer became a cash cow for the Benin City Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), which bills the corporation between N2m to N2m monthly for lightweight appliances.
