Lagos Lawmaker Laments Blackouts In Constituency

A member of the House of Representatives, representing the Epe Federal Constituency, Mr. Olawale Raji, has lamented blackouts in the Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, adding that N12bn will be required to address the challenge.

The lawmaker stated this in Epe during a town hall meeting with residents of his constituency.

Raji lamented that communities in the area had been in darkness for years without any solution.

He said, “The poor power supply in Epe and its environs has negatively affected the socio-economic life of the people.

“The residents of the Epe Federal Constituency, comprising Epe, Eredo, Agbowa, Ejirin and other communities, want power supply.

“The 33KV line from Egbin substation, which is the only source of power supply in this area, often breaks down.

“The permanent solution is for the Omotosho Independent Power Plant, which can supply enough electricity to this area, to become operational.

“The contract for the project was awarded by the Federal Government in 2012. Thirty per cent of the total funds was paid to the contractor. But months after, the work was abandoned.

“I spoke to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on the issue, but he realised that the state does not have the money to fund the project.

“The fund needed is over N12bn. I have not stopped visiting the Minister of Power,Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, to demand that progress be made on the project.”

The lawmaker stated that the blackouts in the communities were also causing poverty among the residents.

“That is why we are training youths in various skills to survive the times. We have trained 129 youths and they will be empowered to practise what they were taught,” Raji said.

The Oba of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, who lauded the effort of the lawmaker, appealed to the government to use the money generated from the removal of subsidy to better the lot of the people.