National Grid: FG begins assessment of Sokoto LGs without electricity in decade

The Nigerian government has commenced assessment of eight Local Government Councils without electricity in Sokoto East Senatorial District with a view to restoring power.

The LGs have been without electricity for the past ten years.

A team from the Federal Ministry of Power has been dispatched to the affected LGAs with the Director, Distribution, Federal Ministry of power, Mustafa Baba Umarah, as leader.

He said the assessment team would carefully study the nature of the problems causing the blackout in the affected communities and report back to the Federal Government for necessary action.

“The Federal Government is committed towards ensuring that all Nigerians enjoy electricity supply irrespective of where they live,” he said.

On his part, the State Commissioner for Energy, Sanusi Dan Fulani who received the team told journalists that the idea of the assessment was to find out the nature and gravity of the problem occasioned by the total black out in the affected Council Areas.

According to him, “the plan to restore electricity supply to the affected communities is part of effort by the Gov. Ahmed Aliyu- led administration to boost economic activities especially among the rural dwellers.

“Electricity supply is the bedrock of development of every society without which the society may not have a viable economy.

“Our Governor has been worried over the total blackout in the eastern zone of the State, especially being the area the food basket of the State.

“That was why he mandated my Ministry to write to the Federal Government seeking for its intervention in the restoration of electricity supply to these eight local governments of the State,” he added.

The Commissioner added that the work will gulp between four to five billion Naira, and appealed for support from the benefitting communities to ensure its success.

According to Dan Fulani, the state government would soon introduce motorised boreholes to be given to the rural communities with a view to enhancing agricultural activities and boost food sufficiency in the State.

“We are trying to use the energy sector to reduce poverty and create job opportunities among our people,” Dan Fulani added.

The eight local government areas to be reconnected to the national grid include Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Wurno, Rabah, Gada, Illela, Gwadabawa.

The commissioner further said, “These local government areas have been without electricity for close to a decade now, but with the current effort being put in place by the State and Federal Governments, the story will soon be a thing of the past”.