Revisit abandoned Omotosho-Epe-Ajah power project, Reps tell FG

Members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously called for immediate completion of the N6 billion Omotosho-Epe-Ajah 135km, 330KVA double circuit transmission line project.

The project, awarded by Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to KEC Construction Company Limited after payment of $3,697,538.29 and N244,095,569.97 since 2012, is still at 27 percent completion stage.

To this end, the House mandated its Committee on Power, chaired by Daniel Effiong (PDP-Cross River), to investigate the cause of the abandonment of the project, and the total power outage in the Epe area over the years.

In his lead debate, Wale Raji (APC-Lagos), explained that the construction of Omotosho-Epe-Ajah 135km, 330KVA double circuit transmission line project was awarded by TCN through its 10GW Grid expansion plan at the sum of $24,650,225.24 and N1,627,303,799.79 in 2010 to address the persistent power outage, which has paralysed socio-economic activities of the people.

The lawmaker noted that the project, which officially commenced in June 2011 and abandoned, might lead to a total collapse of the economy of the entire Epe Federal Constituency and other towns within and outside Lagos State expected to be served by the power project, with very adverse socio-economic and political consequences on the people.

According to him, the second segment of the project estimated at N6.5 billion has not been awarded even though the host community has gone ahead to provide the land required for it, and the Lagos State government has given the necessary approval for the use of the land.

“The travails and agonies of the people of Epe Federal Constituency comprising of Epe, Eredo, Agbowa, Ejinrin and other communities with a population of over 500,000, who have been living in perpetual darkness for about 10 years for lack of electricity supply from the national grid.

“The overload and overstretched 33KV line from Epe and its environs accounts for he erratic power supply as a result of frequent breakdowns. The erratic power supply in Epe and its environs has negatively affected the socio-economic lives of the people, as local industries and businesses have all shut down or resorted to the use of generators at very outrageous costs,” Raji said.

Following the adoption of the motion by members, the House urged Ikeja Distribution Company to urgently take measures to restore electricity supply to Epe Federal Constituency pending the completion of the Omotosho power project. which is expected to provide permanent solution to the power outage in the areas.

The House also implored Federal Ministry of Power and TCN to make adequate provision in the 2016 budget for the award of the contract for the construction of the 330/132/33 KV substation at Epe, and the completion of the abandoned Omotosho-Epe-Ajah 135km, 330KV double circuit transmission line project.