Our Correspondent/Abuja
The member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State in the House of Representatives, Hon.Nnamdi Ezechi has frown at the the oil companies who have refused to carry out their corporate social responsibilities to their host communities.
This is even as he opined that instead of doing so, they rather employ divide and rule tactics to shy away from their primary responsibility.
He wondered why despite the significant and strategic location of Ndukwa/Ukwuani constituency to both the major oil companies and the Federal Government, the constituency have been without electricity for so long.
Worried by the nonchalant attitude exhibited by all and sundry, he moved a motion on Tuesday for the House among other things to urge the Federal Ministry of Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria to urgently provide funds to ensure the completion of the Okpai -Kwale Transmission Line project, located in Ndokwa /Ukwuani Federal Constituency in Delta State.
The House also in the motion moved by Hon. Ezechi mandated the House Committee on Power to do away with all beauracracies that hinders the timely completion of the project
It is worthy of note that Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency is host to the 960 megawatts Okpai Independent
Power Plant, which plays a significant role in the supplying of electricity to Anambra, Enugu and Abuja, thereby making it a crucial asset for the nation’s power distribution system.
Accordingly, the lawmaker expressed concerned that despite its significant role in power supply as well as being host to several Oil Companies which includes, the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), Midwestern Oil and Gas limited, Energia limited, Pillar Oil limited, Chorus Energy limited, communities in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal constituency lack electricity supply, which hinders economic growth.
He recalled that in 2021, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) awarded the contract to the tune of 4.2 billion naira for construction of a 132KV Double Circuit transmission line to address the electricity needs of the Ndokwa/Ukwuani communities, but observed that the project has since experienced significant delays and has been stalled for over a year due to price variations.
He said that despite formal request by the contractor for additional funding to complete the project, it still remains uncompleted as all efforts have proved futile.
Been aware of the need to prioritize the electrification project in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal constituency and ameliorate the untold hardship the people have faced despite their contribution to the power sector, compelled the lawmaker to table the motion which received overwhelming support from his colleagues.
