Bayelsa Commissioner Offers Hope as Power Restoration Efforts Progress
Nearly two months after a devastating act of vandalism plunged Bayelsa into darkness, the state’s Commissioner for Information, Orientation, and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, has reassured residents that progress is being made to restore electricity. The 132 KVA twin circuit transmission towers that supplied power to the state were maliciously damaged on July 29, leaving Bayelsans in the dark.
Contractors have been working tirelessly to repair the damaged transmission towers at the Okogbe axis of the East-West road. Koku-Obiyai, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during an on-site assessment, expressed optimism that the power would be restored soon. She urged residents to remain patient, acknowledging the difficulties caused by the prolonged outage and assuring them that the government is aware of their pain.
“We are aware of the difficulties the power outage has caused, and we are working hard to restore power as quickly as possible,” Koku-Obiyai said. “I want to assure the people of Bayelsa that we are doing everything in our power to ensure that the power is restored soon.”
In an effort to prevent future incidents, Koku-Obiyai revealed that discussions are ongoing between Rivers and Bayelsa states and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to address the issue of vandalism. The commissioner praised the TCN and contractors for their dedication to restoring power to the state.
TCN management had previously assured that it would require an additional six weeks to complete repairs on the vandalized transmission line. The General Manager of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, Mr Olive Kemenanabo, urged contractors to complete the work within the six-week timeline given to the state government.
One of the contractors, Musa Mustapha, reported that two out of the three towers designated for installation had been completed, with hopes of finishing the remaining tower within the stipulated timeline.
The prolonged power outage has had a significant impact on economic activities in Bayelsa, particularly among micro, small, and medium business operators. The current cost of petrol at N1,300 per liter in the state has further exacerbated the challenges faced by these businesses.
As the people of Bayelsa eagerly await the restoration of power, Koku-Obiyai’s reassurance offers a glimmer of hope. The state government’s efforts to address the issue of vandalism and restore power are a step in the right direction, and residents can only hope that the lights will be back on soon.
