GOVERNOR OKOWA CALLS FOR COMMUNITY SENSITIZATION ON POWER DISTRIBUTION

The Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has called for community sensitization on the current state of power distribution in the State.

The governor who stated this when the management team of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) led by its Chairman Mr. Victor Osibodu paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba said that most communities show reluctance in paying electricity bills for fear that power would not be received.

"There is a need for our communities to be sensitized on your activities because the various communities over the years pay bills and do not receive any power supply so they need to be enlightened that you are something different than what has been perceived" Senator Okowa said, adding that "we have sometimes seen communities get hostile because they believe that the services will never come after they have made payments".

He said that the current power distribution which was 140megawatts that the state got was quite inadequate and called for better power distribution to all parts of the state.

"This state since 1999 has invested a lot in distribution networks and I hope that that will be an advantage for us, but the figures for distribution which is between 100-140megawatts is quite alarming because it is a far cry from what we need but we hope that in the coming years things will improve because Delta State is strategically located to do a lot more in terms of power generation and we are hoping that we become a hub in the future".

The governor disclosed that efforts were being put in place for the security agencies to tackle the issues of power vandalism which is experienced in certain communities in the state.

Senator Okowa commended the Benin Electricity Distribution Company for its rapid distribution of power to the state despite certain challenges it might have faced and gave assurance of the state government's support.

Speaking earlier the Chairman Mr. Victor Osibodu stated that strategies were being put in place to distribute sufficient power to all communities in the state.