By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

In a bid to boost electricity supply to the state, the Ekiti State Government has approved a total of N806,409,775.00 for the execution of various power generation projects across the state.

The State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Taiwo Olatunbosun, said that the approval was given during the State Executive Council meeting held on Friday in Ado-Ekiti.

Olatunbosun, while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, said the move was part of the government’s efforts to tackle the problem of epileptic electricity supply in the state and connect new areas to the national grid.

He said the Exco approved the extension and rehabilitation of the 33kv network and the installation of transformers across towns and villages.

Giving the breakdown of the approvals, the Commissioner said the State Executive Council approved various sums as follows:

• Extension of electricity and installation of transformers: N147,554,000.00 at Ibukunoluwa/Asun Gbowoola and adjoining communities on Afao Road, Ado Ekiti.
• Extension of electricity and installation of transformers: N60,002,275.00 at Faglo Area, Basiri, Ado Ekiti, and installation of transformers at Isan and Usi Ekiti.
• Rehabilitation of 33kv network from Ilumoba to Ikole Ekiti: N145,289,700.00.
• Extension of 33kv network from Ilawe to Igbara Odo: N162,834,000.00.
• Extension of 33kv network from Aramoko to Ijero Ekiti: N232,847,000.00.
• Extension of electricity and installation of transformer: N59,882,800.00.

According to him, all the projects will be executed through direct labor by the State Electricity Board, adding that the projects are expected to be completed within three months.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, said the government wants to ensure that all Ekiti towns have their electricity sourced from within Ekiti.

Aluko revealed that quite a number of communities, up to ten of them, would have transformers provided for.

“In terms of the extension of 33kv lines, the major ones are between Aramoko and Ijero, between Erinjiyan and Igbara Odo, and between Iluomoba and Ikole. These complement the works we have done between Ado and Ikogosi, and between Ado and Gbonyin, Ayekire, Ekiti East axis, as well as starting from Iyemero to Itapaji.

“What we are trying to achieve is to ensure that as many towns within Ekiti as possible get electricity from within Ekiti. For example, the one from Erinjiyan, Aramoko towards Igbara Odo ensures that the line from Akure to Igbara Odo is disconnected, and it is the line from Ado that goes to Igbara Odo.

“The extension from Aramoko to Ijero means that the line from Omuaran to Ijero will no longer need to be used and will now come from Ode in Ekiti state.

“We still also have connections from Omuaran to Ilejemeje, to Ido-Osi, connections from Ikare to Ayeteju, and so on.

“But we are working towards a situation where we have all the towns within Ekiti have their electricity from within Ekiti.

“This is to ensure that the people of the state at least have accessible and available 33kvs.

“We must also say that the fact that we have lines and transformers, we still need to have additional electricity generation within the state. It is to make sure that whenever there is a supply from the national grid, Ekiti has its share from the grid. That is why we are doing the extension of the 33kv and the provision of more transformers to the communities in the state.”