The House of Representatives has made a resolution to initiate an investigation into a purported 14-year power outage in certain communities within Ondo State, falling under the purview of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.
According to The PUNCH, the resolution was enacted subsequent to the approval of a motion put forth by Odimayo John, a legislator from the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, during the plenary session held on Wednesday.
According to John, there has been a reported absence of electricity supply in various communities within the Irele Local Government Areas of the state. These communities include Ode Irele, Ode Ajaja, Akotogbo, Iyesa, Ujusun, Ormi, Aturase, and Udogun. This lack of electricity has persisted for a duration of 14 years.
The individual stated that the localities of lgbotako, llutitun, lkoya, Ayeka, lgbodigu, lrinje, lgundan, ldobilayo, Okitipupa, and numerous other communities within the Ese Edo and llaje Local Government Areas were similarly impacted.
He continued by saying that all of the area’s small and medium-sized businesses had been forced to close as a result of the situation.
All the large industries in the area had moved out, he said, and the ones that stayed but struggled like Oluwa glass Industry, Okitipupa Oil Palm Mill, and NTA Channel 26 had all shut down.
The Ondo State University of Science and Technology Okitipupa, which served as a significant centre for local private enterprises, was likewise entangled in the web of continuous darkness, he continued.
As a result of the House’s adoption of the motion, the Committee on Power has been directed to request an explanation from the BEDC’s General Manager/Chief Executive Officer.
The House also demanded an explanation from the Transmission Company of Nigeria regarding the decision to cut power to the communities of Irele, Okitipupa, Ese Odo, and Ilaje LGA.
The House also mandated that the impacted LGA’s local government areas (LGAs) be quickly reconnected, with the committee coordinating efforts with the National Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The House has requested a report from the committee in eight weeks so that legislation can proceed.
