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Senator Chiwuba Patrick Ndubueze, representing Imo North in the Senate, has announced that Okigwe and surrounding communities in Imo State may soon see an end to their prolonged power outage.
Ndubueze, who also chairs the Imo Power Improvement Task Force, revealed that after 15 years without electricity, Okigwe is set to be reconnected to the national grid.
This development follows the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) approval for the Imo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (ISERC) to oversee the state’s electricity market. The approval, granted through Governor Hope Uzodimma, allows ISERC control over the local electricity market.
“With the efforts of the Governor, we’ve been granted a Mobile Substation of 1/60. We will now have 48 megawatts for distribution,” Ndubueze stated. He expressed hope that this progress would not face further setbacks.
The senator highlighted the broader power challenges in the region, noting a 2/30 power plant in Okigwe that has remained defunct for 23 years. “It was awarded in 2001/2002. No security was provided and it was vandalized,” he explained.
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Ndubueze also addressed the role of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) in the area’s power woes. “Okigwe is the only ancient town in Nigeria without electricity,” he pointed out. “We were granted another substation but the DisCo in charge of the area, because they’ve been given a license, refused to supply electricity to Okigwe Local Government Area and the surrounding communities.”
The senator commended Governor Uzodimma for his efforts in securing NERC’s approval to generate and transmit electricity within the state. With this new authorization, ISERC is poised to take control of electricity distribution in these long-neglected areas.
This move is expected to bring relief to residents who have endured years of darkness and stimulate economic activities in the region.
As Imo State journey on this new chapter in its power sector, many will be watching closely to see if this initiative can finally illuminate Okigwe and restore reliable electricity to its communities.
