NAN-HE-20
Power
Jos, May 8, 2017(NAN) Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has re-stated his government’s commitment to work with the Federal Government and private sector investors to realise increased and stable power supply to the people of the state.
Lalong said this during the 15th monthly meeting of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, with power sector stakeholders on Monday in Jos.
He disclosed that two major players in the power sector, the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) and the Nigeria Electricity Distribution Company (NESCO) Ltd, were located in Plateau.
“Because these companies are located in Plateau state, the state government will partner these companies to ease their operations.
“This we have done by creating the enabling environment in terms of security, community relations and investing in the provision of power distribution assets in the rural communities.
“I want to commend the Federal Government for its intervention in the area of rural electrification, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
“I want to also appeal to the minister, for the resumption and completion of work at the numerous REA project sites in the state that were abandoned for years,’’ Lalong said.
The governor appealed to the minister to expedite the completion of the 132KV transmission line from Makeri to the National Independent Power Plant (NIPP) sub-station in Pankshin.
According to him, its completion will improve the quality and quantity of power supply to the Central and Southern Senatorial Zones of the state, where the bulk of the state’s agricultural activities were taking place.
Lalong commended the minister for granting licence to one of the private sector developers to build and operate a 70 megawatts solar power generation plant in Panyam, Mangu Local Government Area of the state. (NAN)
UBO/OIF/IA
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Idris Abdulrahman