NDDC Restores Distribution Network, Connects Electricity To 2,000 Ondo Communities And Five LGAs

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced that it has completed and connected the 132/33kv electricity sub-station it built at Ode-Erinje in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State to the national grid in an effort to boost economic activity in the region.

During an inspection of the project, NDDC’s Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, described the power station as a legacy project that would boost economic activity in Ondo State and improve the living standards of the 2,000 communities in the state’s five local governments.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by Pius Ughakpoteni, NDDC’s Director Corporate Affairs, Antai emphasised that the NDDC was committed to providing electricity to oil-producing communities in Ondo South Senatorial District that had been without it for the previous 15 years, and that the substation would be inaugurated this month.

He stated, “The power substation is a legacy project that is in line with the directive of our Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, to ensure the completion and commissioning of legacy projects that will have a meaningful impact on the lives of our people.

“The MD/CEO has also directed that we replicate this legacy project across all Niger Delta states, and we thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the NDDC with a performing Governing Board that prioritises the people’s interests.”

He stated, “We are committed to lighting up all local government areas and oil-producing communities in the Ondo South Senatorial District.”

“This falls under NDDC’s mandate to provide infrastructure and development projects in the Niger Delta region. The Commission is committed to fulfilling its mandate by completing all ongoing projects.”

The Executive Director, Projects stated that the NDDC had awarded a contract for the complete rehabilitation of the distribution network because it was eager to connect the power lines to the injection substation and provide electricity to the benefiting communities via the national grid.

Speaking further about the project, Engr. Benson Obayelu, who represented the contracting firm, stated that the scope of the power project included the evacuation of light from Omotosho with a step down at Ode-Erinje, Okitipupa, via a 132KV double circuit transmission line with two 30/40MVA transformers.

According to him, “the transmission lines run through Ireje, with 145 electricity towers standing on concrete foundations.”

He stated that the scope includes the evacuation of light from Omotosho via a step down at Ireje and a 132KV double circuit line with two 30/40MVA transformers at Okitipupa.

He noted that five local government areas in Ondo State’s Southern Senatorial district that had previously been without public power would be connected once the project was completed.

Dr. Obafemi Ogbaro, Acting National Chairman of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria, TROMPCON, stated in his remarks that nothing was more important in the Ondo South Senatorial District than being connected to the country’s *national* grid, lamenting that his people had been in darkness for many years.

Hon. Otito Atikase, the Ondo State Representative on the NDDC Board, stated that several communities across five local government areas in Ondo state’s oil production belt were eagerly awaiting the turn on of the lights in their areas.

He stated that access to electricity was critical for economic development and improving people’s quality of life, pointing out that a lack of electricity had hampered growth and development in many Niger Delta communities.

Atikase stated that the NDDC’s efforts to provide electricity to these communities will have a significant impact on their lives and contribute to the region’s overall development.