Makinde: Oyo Will Be First State to Achieve Energy Sufficiency

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, yesterday, said the state would be the first to achieve energy sufficiency in the country.

The governor, who premised his submission on the constitutional amendment that enables states to generate and distribute electricity, said the state could get into the electricity generation and distribution, assuring that the state would take advantage of the new electricity law in Nigeria.

He maintained that the aspiration was that in the comity of states in Nigeria, Oyo would be the first to attain energy sufficiency as the  governor is into electrical engineering.

Makinde who said this at the commissioning of two transformers (500KVA and 300KVA) donated by the Chairman of Ilaji Hotels and Resort, Engr. Dotun Sanusi, to communities in Ona Ara local Government area of the state, eulogised the donor and urged other people of means to emulate him and contribute to the development of their communities.

He said, “Not only did Engr Dotun Sanusi install the transformers, he also linked a number of communities together. He provided the infrastructure like the cables too.

“So, on behalf of the government, the people of Oyo State, especially the people of Ona Ara Local Government area, we want to appreciate Engr Sanusi for what he is doing in the local government, communities and the state. We are really proud of him.

“We notice that the IBEDC brought meter here to get money. Well, we won’t say they should not collect their money but they should tell us how they will provide electricity for the people at a discounted rate first, because they did not provide the poles and cables. I said this because we need to recover the money spent on the infrastructure.”

While speaking on the rationale behind the donation, Sanusi said he did so to support the efforts of the Governor.

“The fact is that Engr. Seyi Makinde has made those of us who are engineers very proud due to his approach to governance. I can say without fear of contradiction that there is no Governor in Nigeria who can match the developmental strides of Engr Makinde”, he said.

The Deputy Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Muhammed Fadeyi, and the President, Ona Ara Development Forum, Alhaji Kola Bolomope, in their separate remarks, assured the governor of continued support.

The duo, thereafter sought for the extension of the ongoing project at Akaran and its extension from the spot to Araromi, establishment of an international market as well as a higher institution in the local government.