0
ASABA – A group known as Isoko People’s Measures (IPM) for Good Governance on Thursday stormed Delta Government House to demand immediate restoration of electricity supply to the area to prevent imminent collapse of its economy.
The protest led by Chief Jerry Othuke on behalf of the IPM and the entire Isoko, Urhobo and Kwale nations demanded among other things the completion and inauguration of the Ozoro 132/33KV lines and transmission sub-station in the area.
“Urgent maintenance and replacement of obsolete cable lines and transformers in Isoko. We need electricity not solar paneled street lights.
“Give Isoko light and restore its economy from imminent collapse. The absence of power supply has crippled the Isoko economy.
According to them, businesses are folding up daily and business owners struggle to provide alternative electricity supply due to high cost of diesel and petrol.
The group noted that Isoko nation is crude oil and gas producing and could not afford to remain underdeveloped.
They pledged their confidence in the Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori’s leadership to deliver on the transformational projects for the benefit of the people.
Responding, the State Commissioner for Energy, Mr Michael Amuka, thanked the group for the peaceful protests while assuring them of the state government resolve to restore electricity to the area.
He, however, charge them to guide against all forms of power facility vandalisation in the area.
Amuka said: “You need to help the security to guide the area and to take responsibility to protect government infrastructure because not after replacement people will come to vandalise it.
“Vandalism is the major problem we have on this electricity lines. Going forward, in the next one month, light will be restored to the area.
“The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) is still in charge, we are intervening to make sure we bring Isoko back to the national grid”.
