From Kenechukwu Obiajuru, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has responded to concerns over the prolonged blackout in Yenagoa, the state capital, which was due to the vandalization of 13 high-voltage 132 transmission towers along the Owerri-Ahoada-Yenagoa between Ahoada in Rivers State and Igbogene in Bayelsa State
According to Engr. Olice Kemenanabo, Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, the destroyed towers, which belong to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), a federal government-owned entity, have hindered power supply to the entire Bayelsa state and parts of Ahoada West Local Government Area in Rivers State
Kemenanabo dismissed allegations by the Patriotic Voices of Niger Delta that Governor Senator Douye Diri is insensitive to the plight of Bayelsans, stating that the governor has actively engaged with TCN to resolve the issue.
He commended the Management of TCN for their prompt response to deploy very competent and skilled contractors to repair the damaged towers, of with work is progressing rapidly. A total of four different contractors with relevant experience, skills and competences have been deployed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria to ensure that the entire scope of works for power to be restored is delivered within record time according to Olice
On the cost of repairs and the duration, the Managing Director said it will cost about N1.7 billion and about five weeks to complete judging from his professional knowledge of similar jobs
Kemenanabo further enjoined Bayelsans to condemn this unprecedented act of vandalism and name it what it is instead of politicizing the situation even as he also addressed the issue of independent power generation.
According to him, the government has already made a request of 100mmscuf of gas from SPDC for Gas to Power and other gas based industrial activities. “Already a technical committee is interfacing with Shell Nigerian Gas the Gas Commercialization subsidiary of SPDC to fine tune the details”.
The Managing Director emphasized that gas supply is enterprise driven and so contrary to the notion that Bayelsa owns the gas, power supply shall be cost reflective tariff based and not free as already some communities are agitating for free electricity because they host Oil and Gas facilities.