….As House Committee embarks on fact finding mission to Imo
By Eze Duke
Following a petition against Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) over alleged total blackout, extortion and neglect of Mbaise District in Imo State, the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, has assured that there will be a solution to the issue.
Addressing the people from during a fact finding visit to Mbaise at the weekend, leader of the team and Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Mike Etiaba, noted that it took the House of Representatives a lot to embark on the visit,
He emphasized that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, weighed in with support from others Imo citizens, including Governor Hope Uzodimma, to see that the issue is resolved.
Hon Etiaba gave assurance on behalf of the House that they have come to bring solution, stressing that they will make it work, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power.
In his remarks, Paul Okeke of the EEDC recalled that they had been to the House of Representatives Committee summons up to five times, with TCN, NEC, which is also why they are part of the visit, and expressed hope that the Project would be completed as they are willing to do their beat whenever commissioned to do so.
Also speaking, Rabiu Bako who represented the Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), revealed that the project started since 2011, and is known as Owerri/ Aboh Mbaise Line and Substation.
He pointed out that the problem was due to Budgetary Allocation, pointing out that they experienced vandalization while they were entering Owerri to Mbaise.
According to him, they identified the problems in November/ December last year, and presently, they are counting the losses on the Project, which is already 60% completed.
While welcoming the team to his Palace, traditional ruler of Ibeku Autonomous Community in Aboh Mbaise LGA, HRH Eze Onyekachi Enyinnaya Ukpabi, said the visit was a ray of hope for the people of the Area who have suffered much due to the poor electricity supply from Egbu Sub Station, which is overloaded, praying that the visit would make the facility Operational before the end of the year.
HRH Eze Ukpabi whose Community, Ibeku houses one of the abandoned Power Stations said: “We are excited to have the Federal Lawmakers led by Etiaba and his team. It’s a big day. We have problem of Power in Mbaise. We don’t want to beg or depend on Government or anybody. We want to Produce. The Power Station that can serve up to 9 Local Government Areas but standing moribund is an Eyesore “.
Meanwhile, Barr. Nwaekpe Malachi, whose petition drew the attention of the Federal House of Representatives to matter, stated that ignorance and neglect is the bane of man.
He pointed out to TCN that Mbaise is densely populated and needs a Transmission Station, adding that they should not use the Budget as an excuse because before they commenced the project, it has been captured in the Budget.
Federal Lawmakers and members of the House of Representatives, Hon Emeka Chinedu (Ahiazu/Ezinihitte Mbaise) and Hon Matthew Nwogu (About Mbaise/Ngor Okpala) together with their Imo State House of Assembly colleagues, Hon Dr Henry Agbasonu and Hon Princewill Ugochukwu Amuchie representing Ezinihitte Mbaise and Aboh Mbaise State Constituencies respectively, were on hand to lend their supy, assuring to do everything to see that the problem is resolved.
Other traditional rulers from Aboh Mbaise and Ezinihitte Mbaise were on hand to receive the federal government delagation.
