The Ekiti State Government has voiced strong opposition to a planned two-month power disruption proposed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, led by Commissioner Professor Mobolaji Aluko, has called for an immediate suspension of the outages, which are scheduled to last nine hours daily from July 1 to August 31, 2024.
In a letter addressed to the Managing Directors of TCN, BEDC, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Professor Aluko criticized the lack of direct communication with the Ekiti State Ministry and the Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (EKSERB).
He emphasized that the proposed 558 hours of outages would impose an unacceptable economic, financial, and social burden on the residents of Ekiti State.
“We were not consulted on this significant disruption. The planned outages represent an enormous cost to our citizens and local businesses,”Professor Aluko stated.
He called for an urgent meeting on July 2, 2024, to explore less disruptive alternatives for the necessary maintenance work on the 132KV Akure-Osogbo transmission line.
The meeting aims to find a sustainable solution that protects the interests of Ekiti State while allowing for critical infrastructure upgrades.
“We are eager to collaborate on a plan that minimizes the impact on our communities and ensures a continuous power supply during this maintenance period, Professor Aluko added.
He stressed the need for prompt action to address the concerns of Ekiti residents and maintain economic stability in the region.
