BY ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA
When Governor Biodun Oyebanji assumed office on 16th October, 2022, one of the herculean tasks before him was the situation of public power supply in Ekiti State.
Before his ascension to office, epileptic electricity was a huge challenge that confronted private individuals, families, small-scale and large-scale businesses, corporate organizations and public institutions.
The previous administrations had tried their best to remedy the situation by adopting various measures to tackle the problem but rather than abate, inadequate power supply refused to go away thereby rendering their efforts futile.
Ekiti was becoming synonymous with darkness and Oyebanji who was not happy with the situation decided to confront the hydra-headed problem headlong. Like he used to say, he was not elected to give excuses but to find solutions to the problems of the people who popularly elected him into office.
Like a surgeon clutching his scalpel, Oyebanji slowly, gradually, potently and decisively performed a surgical operation on the power subsector which forms an integral part of Infrastructure and Industrialization, the fourth leg of the five-pillar agenda of his administration.
One of the earlier decisions taken by Mr Governor in the life of his administration was a meeting he held with the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) on issues around complaints by residents on billing system, discrepancies in payment and distribution and exploring ways to solve them.
Governor Oyebanji’s hard work turn around the electricity situation in Ekiti State to the delight of the people who are the ultimate beneficiaries and the economy that is on the upward swing in both rural and urban centres.
Communities in Ayekire and Ekiti East Local Government Areas in the state who had been in darkness for over ten years before the advent of the Oyebanji Administration now have good stories to tell as they now enjoy regular power supply with positive impact on their economic and social lives.
It would be recalled that the Governor performed the symbolic switching on of light during the celebration of the first anniversary of his administration at Omuo to officially restore public power supply to towns and villages in Ayekire and Ekiti East Local Government Areas and the residents are revelling in the joy of this change of status.
Few days ago, a video went viral on various social media platforms in which a woman sang the praises of Governor Oyebanji to high heavens commending him for restoring light to her hometown, Omuo and other communities in Ekiti East expressing joy that they had enjoyed power supply for four consecutive days without any outage.
She said: “Look at our situation now in Ekiti East. I went to work earlier today and before I came back, all the water and beverages I put inside my refrigerator has turned to (ice) blocks because we have been enjoying uninterrupted electricity now for the past four consecutive days. We thank Governor BAO for what he has done for us.”
This is one of several testimonies of restoration of joy, excitement, hope restored, resuscitation of businesses, social life and boosting of security of lives and property of the residents of the affected council areas.
All these did not happen by accident; they resulted from the Governor’s commitment to rescuing the state from darkness, lifting businesses from the doldrums and improving the energy needs of the people for their social and economic benefits.
Governor Oyebanji’s reforms in the state’s electricity subsector is another remarkable testament of a strong will to change the narrative from a state suffering epileptic power supply to a state that now enjoys regular power supply.
After two years in office, the Governor has several achievements to showcase in the electricity subsector which has positively rubbed off on the people of the state and its economy. This is another promise made and promise kept by the People’s Governor.
The achievements include the establishment of a 5-Mega Watts Independent Power Project (IPP), which is currently providing uninterrupted power supply to the Government House, the Governor’s Office, the House of Assembly, the State Secretariat, the Ekiti State University (EKSU) and the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH).
The towns of Erijiyan, Ikogosi and Ipole Iloro which house the two prominent tourist destinations, Ikogosi Warm Spring Resort and Arinta Water Falls have been connected back to the National Grid and this has had significant impact on the economy of these communities located in Ekameta Local Council Development Area.
Communities reconnected back to the National Grid in Ayekire Local Government Area are Ijan, Iluomoba, Aisegba, Agbado, Imesi, Ode, Isinbode, Egbe, Iro Ayeteju while Omuo in Ekiti East is also back on the National Grid following the Governor’s response to their rescue from a decade long blackout.
The state also witnessed the extension of 33kv network from 132kv Omisanjana transmission substation to Baptist High School while the Ilawe dedicated 33kv feeder line has been connected with Erijiyan.
Under the watch of Governor Oyebanji, 500kva 33/0.415 relief transformer was installed at Ikogosi while the extension of electricity from Omuo to Eda Ile, Ikun Oba, Araromi and Ilasa has commenced. Also, the extension of a dedicated 33kv feeder line from Omisanjana through Ilawe to Igbara Odo is ongoing.
A major significant breakthrough in the power subsector recorded under the Oyebanji Administration was the establishment and incorporation of Ile Iyi Power Company Nigeria Limited through which the state government is leveraging on the removal of power generation from the constitutional exclusive list to concurrent list.
Consequent upon this, the Ekiti State Government has licensed electricity investors which include 3 Distribution Companies, 4 Generation Companies and Five Meter Assets Providers as the state targets a stable supply of 130 Mega Watts.
Apparently impressed by the development, a Twitter user, BOSA@Obasa Sanmi writes: “Mr Bayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, needs to urgently convene a workshop with all state governors and give them this Ekiti template as the template to work on to generate, transmit and distribute a minimum of 500MW between now and December, 2026.”
The Oyebanji Administration also established the Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (EKSERB) under the leadership of an Executive Secretary as a demonstration of its commitment to reform and turnaround of the subsector.
The major streets of Ado Ekiti and some other major towns are now well-lit and brightly illuminated in the night with solar-powered streetlights which is cheaper and more affordable thereby completely eliminating huge spending on purchase of diesel to power streetlights which was the scenario that obtained in the past.
This has extended business hours, improved nightlife and boosted security in the towns and also projected Ekiti as a state where the light shines. Stable electricity is a harbinger for inflow of investment and creation of job opportunities.
The efforts of Governor Oyebanji in the power subsector will go a long way in bettering the lots of the citizens and bring them into the loop of Shared Prosperity.
Ogunmola is Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media (Print Media)