Poor Electricity Supply: Delta Assembly Interfaces With State Ministry of Energy

The Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Power and Energy has met with the management of the State Ministry of Energy where both parties deliberated on ways to improve the electricity power supply in the state.

The House Committee Chairman, Hon Kenneth Ogba and members; Honorables Mathew Opuaro, Charles Emetulu, Solomon Ighrakpata and Moses Anaughe were received by the Commissioner for Energy, Rt Hon Basil Ganagana.

Hon Ogba stated that the familiarization wasn borne out of the need to bring together critical stakeholders to seek solution to power problem in the state.

The Lawmaker stated that there was the need for the committee and the ministry to synergize to move the energy sector forward as it is key to the Stronger Delta drive of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Hon Ogba promised that the committee would help ensure adequate budgetary provisions for the ministry in the 2020 state budget and urged the officials to be open to lawmakers.

In their contributions, Honorables Mathew Opuaro, Charles Emetulu, Solomon Ighrakpata and Moses Anaughe, expressed concern over the epileptic electricity supply in the state, stressing that the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC has not been fair to Delta State in the distribution of electricity.

The Lawmakers said the sad narratives was seriously affecting development in the state, maintaining that despite the huge financial commitment to the power sector by the Delta State Government, BEDC had continued to frustrate the effort.

They all agreed that the power sector in the country was in a sorry state that requires serious intervention as electricity is key to the growth of any society.

The Lawmakers said Delta state should be allowed to benefit in its intervention in the energy sector.

The Commissioner for Energy, Basil Ganagana expressed concern that despite the privatization of power, the state government was still funding the sector.

He said no responsible government will allow its people to remain in darkness, hence the huge financial commitments.

Rt Hon Ganagana stated that it was also sad to point out the frustration being suffered by the state in the hands of BEDC, even with the effort of the state government to provide electricity to the people.

The Energy Commissioner reminded the legislators that the Stronger Delta agenda of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is a collective project and appealed for enabling laws that can check the worrisome situation in the power sector.

He affirmed that Deltans are not happy with the situation in the energy sector, stressing that as the representatives of the people he can also feel the pressure on them by constituents.