Power Outage: Koku-Obiyai Promises Of Power Restoration Soon.

 

As  Residents Baylesa State grapple with power outage for more than a month now, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy,  has  promised that power will be restored soon  with the quick commencement of repair works in  the state and  thirteen other collapsed but compromised towers between Okugbe and Mbiama in Rivers State.

The commissioner  who spoke on behalf of Bayelsa State Government however urged political gladiators to desist from turning the disaster into a  blame game  stating  that their attitude is capable of strengthening the hands of the vandals who are likely to find support in their political approach to the serious issues of development.

Speaking to journalists  at the weekend after an on-the-spot assessment of the ongoing works to re-erect the two out of the three dismembered and collapsed power towers at the Igbogene end of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) facilities, she  described the vandalization of power towers and consequent blackout in the state as an attack on the social and economic wellbeing of the residents of the state and a sabotage on government’s investment drive.

Koku-Obiyai advised residents to be vigilant adding  that the recent extensive attack on power lines supplying electricity to the state was  suggestive of a  calculated attempt at making life difficult for the residents of the state.

 Urging residents to join government at condemning the unfortunate criminal attacks on power towers, the Information Commissioner however commended the Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN) for responding quickly to Bayelsa State Government calls to restore the collapsed Towers. 

"I urge urged Bayelsans to be patient with the Federal Government controlled Transmission Company of Nigeria owners of the powerline.  Every stone is being turned to rehabilitate the damaged power towers to restore supply to the state."

 " We will continue to work with relevant authorities, security agencies, community leaders and youth organizations to forestall a future occurrence of the willful damage of power infrastructure in the state." She said.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited (BECL), Engr. Olice Kemenanabo said the Bayelsa State Government was committed to working with every stakeholder to ensure that power is restored in the state before long.

Engr. Kemenanabo expressed regret over the attitude of residents to government assets, insisting that the only way to ensure that citizens derive enduring benefit from the amenities in their communities is to own such assets and protect them since they are the primary beneficiaries of such infrastructure.

The Managing Director: said:" but for the vandalization of 13 additional towers between Okogbe and Mbiama, power would have been reinstated in four weeks."

"I enjoin the security agents in the state to be more focused in fishing out these unscrupulous elements and their accomplices that have grounded to halt the social economic activities in the state."

He however assured Bayelsa residents that with the activation of the emergency clauses by TCN  for the rehabilitation of the towers, power would likely be restored within five weeks by his professional judgement.