Mokwa community now connected to the grid, enjoy steady power supply weeks after Legit.ng’s report

Five weeks after Legit.ng published a report on the blackouts experienced in Mokwa, Niger state and the poor response of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to the issue, the town has now been connected to the grid.

In an investigation by Olajide Adelana, Legit.ng’s reporter revealed that the broken down substation in the community which plunged the community into over nine months of power outages has been finally replaced with 7.5 MVA distribution injection sub-station.

It was gathered that the previous substation which was installed more than 40 years ago became irreparable and finally broke down in March 2018, leaving the community to stew in darkness.

It would be recalled that Legit.ng in the report published last year December chronicled efforts made by residents of the community to ensure they are re-connected to the grid without much success until the Niger state government came to their rescue and awarded the contract for the procurement and installation of a new 7.5 MVA distribution injection sub-station.

Even then, residents who spoke with Legit.ng complained about the slow pace of work at the sub-station, fearing that the project might eventually be abandoned.

These concerns were, however, laid to rest on Monday, January 7, when the sub-station was completed and the transformer officially energised after normal testing was carried out and certification subsequently given by Nigeria Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA).

Power has now been restored to the area with community sources confirming that they now enjoy steady power supply.

“Since when they came to test and launch the project, we have been having 23.5 hours electricity supply,” says Musa Alhaji, a resident of the town.

Legit.ng spoke with many members of the community and they expressed their satisfaction that their cries have now been answered.

Most residents who spoke with our reporter over the phone could not hide their joy as they described the restoration of power to their community as a perfect New Year present.

“As I am talking to you I have light in my house and even in my shop. I have started noticing improvement in my sales and I am very happy. Please help us thank the government of Niger state,” a petty trader who identified himself as Adamu said.

Earlier in an online statement, Kunle Olubiyo, who is the president, Nigeria Consumer Protection Network (NCPN), expressed his gratitude to the media and other stakeholders for staying on the issue and rescuing Mokwa community out of about 10 months power outage.

“Kudos to the media who did a follow up report on this and pulled out the Mokwa Community out of the woods of about 10 months power outage.

“Kudos to all Nigerians, and critical stakeholders in the Nigerian power sector value chain for the display of solidarity, interest and concerns,” said Kunle Olubiyo.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that a bill for an act to amend the Electric Power Reform Act to prohibit and criminalise estimated billing by the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) passed third reading in the House of Representatives