House Of Reps Wades Into Abandoned Arochukwu Electricity Sub-Station

House of Reps

The House of Representatives Today waded into the abandoned Arochukwu Electricity Substation in Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State as the house voted for the Committee on Power to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the Arochukwu 2×30 MVA 132/33KVA Substation .

In a Motion brought on Tuesday by Hon Uko Nkole,Representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency Titled “Urgent Need to Resuscitate the 132/33 KVA Arochukwu Electricity Substation:​
Hon. Nkole Uko Ndukwe Recalled that in 2000, the Federal Government conceived the 2×30 MVA 132/33 KVA Substation to be sited in Uburu–Ihechiowa and Amuvi Village, Arochukwu Local Government Area of Abia State with the aim of improving power supply to communities in Abia and the neighbouring Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

He noted that the contract for the substation was awarded in May 2001 for the sum of $3.4 million with additional local currency component of N91 million naira which contract sum was later varied by additional sums of $350,000 and N21 million respectively that brought the total contract sums to $3.7 million and N111.8 million.

The Lawmaker Stressed that the scope of the project covered comprehensive electro– mechanical and civil works that would ensure that the substation provides adequate electricity to the communities, thereby boosting power generation

“This critical power generation project was abandoned over ten (10) years ago without explanation after attaining ninety percent (90%) completion, thereby leaving the Communities utterly frustrated and without immediate prospect for remedy”

He also noted that the Arochukwu power substation project was conspicuously omitted from the power privatization programme of the Federal Government without any explanation and determined that the laudable and beneficial project be resuscitated and urgently completed for the benefits of the expectant communities.

Arochukwu

After hearing details of the Motion by the Lawmaker.the Speaker of the House Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara Mandated the Committee on Power to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the Arochukwu 2×30 MVA 132/33KVA Substation as well as establish the facts regarding the placement or otherwise of the project in the Federal Government’s power privatization programme and make recommendations within six (6) weeks for further legislative action.

Hon. Ndukwe  subsequently read the Motion title and explained, it was put to a voice vote and passed.