The Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman has directed officials of the ministry of power and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to find a lasting solution to the intractable problem of power in Igala Kingdom of Kogi.
Mrs Etore Thomas, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, said in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, that the minister gave the directive while receiving the Atta of Igala, Michael Ameh Oboni 11 who was on a courtesy visit to the minister.
She said that Mamman regretted that the area had been subjected to endless darkness and hardships following the failure to complete a 133/33 Kilo Volt (KVA) power project earlier awarded for the area.
“The minister explained that he was informed that the contractor who handled the project died while the equipment brought to the site, including transformers, were gutted by fire,”she said.
According to her, Mamman summoned the ministry’s officials to the meeting and directed them to immediately work on a new proposal to award an improved 330KVA power project for more effective coverage of the area.
Earlier, the Atta of Igala lamented that Igala Kingdom was the only area without a transmission station, despite its status as an industrial hub.
He noted that his people had been subjected to untold hardship and poverty occasioned by the poor supply of electricity to the area.
“The Atta of Igala further lamented that most times, his people were thrown into darkness for days, as a result, artisans and other business activities could not thrive for days.
“Ameh added that Igala Land which was endowed with huge mineral resources like, Limestone and Coal, should not be subjected to such abysmal treatment and appealed for the minister’s urgent intervention,”she said.
Etori said that the traditional ruler was accompanied by the Ogah of Atta, Prof Seidu Mohammed.
