Enugu Communities Applaud Federal Government For Facilitating Nsukka Power Project

Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari

By CLEMENT NWOJI, Abuja

Communities in Enugu state, especially those within Nsukka axis have commended the Federal and the State Governments for securing the right-of-way for the completion of the Nsukka power project handled by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) within Nsukka university community.

The Communities particularly expressed appreciation to the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who represented the Federal Government, for his timely intervention and facilitating the resolution of issues inhibiting the right-of-way with the State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

It would be recalled that the Nsukka 30MVA Transmission Station, Enugu State, was energized on the 20th of March, 2018. The substation which had been completed since 2013, was not operational because of Right of Way issues as well as court injunctions which stalled the stringing of 132kV transmission line to the substation.

However, with the intervention of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, who held discussions with Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Right-of-Way issues were promptly dealt with, enabling the construction of the 5KM transmission line connecting the substation to the grid.

The completion and energizing of the project positively impacted positively on the people of Nsukka and the entire Enugu North Senatorial District and relieved them of untold hardship as the area now experience more stable and quality power supply.

It is important to note that work commenced at the Nsukka Substation 12 years after it was abandoned, residents of some rural communities in Igbo-Eze North council Area and University of Nigeria, Nsukka Community are still celebrating effective supply of electricity and installation of other facilities by the present administration across the state.

The Enugu State Government has certainly set the pace in resolving the issue of transmission access line acquisition which enabled TCN revive the abandoned 30MVA transmission sub-station in Nsukka, which is certainly worthy of emulation.

Other state governors have since followed Ugwuanyi’s footsteps in collaborating with TCN to expand power supply in their states.

Speaking on the project, an indigene of the state praised President Muhammadu Buhari, his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari and the State Governor for the welcome intervention.

According to him, “the project
was revived through an appeal made to the Chief of Staff to Mr. President who then moved to contact the Enugu State Government on the abandoned Nsukka Substation project and subsequent discussions led to the collaboration with TCN on how best to secure the right-of-way and complete the project.”

Reports from the rural communities indicate that the people truly appreciate the improved electricity supply especially Olido and some neighbouring communities in Igbo-Eze North local government and the people readily talk about this, reiterating that it was a development they had waited for with anxiety since the project was abandoned years ago.

They commended the Governor for keeping his promise of opening up the rural areas of the state to catalyze even development of the state.