The Bayelsa State Government has assured communities in the Kolo-Creek cluster that it is working round the clock with Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to restore power supply to the area before the end of this year.
Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo gave the assurance while receiving an interim progress report from the joint team comprising government, SPDC and representatives of the communities in Government House, Yenagoa, a statement by his media aide, Doubara Atasi, said on Saturday.
Ewhrudjakpo explained that the electrification project which was at advanced stage would connect four of the cluster communities to the SPDC Kolo-Creek Oil and Gas manifold at Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking at the meeting attended by officials of the SPDC, top government functionaries, and representatives of the cluster communities of Otuasega, Elebele, Oruma and Imiringi, he noted with concern the long period of power outage in the area.
He, however, appealed to the people of the affected communities to remain calm as efforts were being intensified to restore power to their communities soon.
The Deputy Governor also urged the joint team to work closely with the communities to ensure seamless execution of the project to meet up the scheduled completion date of December 2021.
Ewhrudjakpo, who expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, thanked members of the team for their sacrifices.
“Our duty here in government is to serve the people, and we will remain servant leaders because that’s what we are elected to do.”
Presenting the interim progress report on behalf of the team, the Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, Mr. Olice Kemenanabo, said supply of power from the SPDC’s facility to the communities would be feasible as planned, considering the extent of work done so far.
Speaking on behalf of SPDC, Mr Imeh Etukudoh, said that power supply and distribution from the Kolo-Creek Oil and Gas Manifold to Otuasega, Imiringi and Elebele would commence by the second week of December this year.
According to Etukudoh, although work on the 1.6km distribution line to power Oruma has also begun, the electrification project in the community will be completed by 28th of February next year.
In his remarks, the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman of Otuasega Community, Mr. Raniyar Marcus, expressed gratitude to the government for its intervention, and appealed for community involvement in the supervision of the project.
