Fashola directs TCN to reconstruct Ugwuaji rural roads to calm monarchs

Fashola directs TCN to reconstruct Ugwuaji rural roads to calm monarchs

            
THE Confederation of Traditional Rulers of Ugwuaji and Obeagu Communities in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State have appealed to the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to come to their rescue over non-supply of electricity to their areas despite the presence of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, in their domain.
The communities who spoke during the 16th  meeting of operators of the power sector at Ugwuaji told Fashola that although they made several acres of land available for the construction of 330/132/33KV transmission stations in the area without demanding for compensation, none of the communities was hooked to electricity even as the surrounding communities were enjoying such social amenities.
In a petition jointly presented by the traditional rulers of Obeleagu-Ugwuaji, Igwe Chris Anyia and Igwe Reuben Agwu on behalf of other communitities, they said that the eight 330 KVA transformers which emanated from the TCN to other communities were not providing electricity to their people, even “when they transverse our farmlands and many building structures, thereby depriving our villages of their means of livelihood and shelters…”
According to them, the minister made many promises to the communities at the time their land was being acquired, including “a dedicated 33KV feeder from the substation to give our communities power supply free of charge; provision of employment for our youths at both junior and senior cadres; provision of access roads,” as well as distribution of transformers where necessary among others.
They further regretted that the Ugwuaji communities extended their local power supply to the TCN substation through their local transformer before the facility was commissioned, only to be severed from the 33KV lines which fed other surrounding villages, saying, “What a bad way of repaying our good gestures?”
They then, urged Fashola to direct immediate re-routing of the electricity supply to enable the communities in the area to benefit. They also asked for the reconstruction of Ugwuaji major roads damaged by numerous heavy duty trucks carrying containers and transformers to the Ugwuaji substation among others.
However, responding, Fashola directed the management of the TCN substation to fix the Ugwuaji road without further delay. Fashola said that he had asked the management to reconstruct the road when he visited the facility earlier, pointing out that the first thing he noticed on approaching the substation was the poor condition of the major road leading to the area.