By Jonathan Ugbal; Government House Correspondent
Cross River State Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu Tuesday, in Calabar said the achievements of the Benedict Ayade administration has been dwarfed by the much talked about signature projects and the garment factory.
“People don’t seem to realize that a lot of things have been achieved in this administration” Esu said shortly before commissioning 80 transformers procured by the state in a bid to improve on electricity generation, adding that “They have been drowned by the signature projects and garment factory”.
Esu expressed delight in taking delivery of the transformers and warned that the state government will ensure they collect all as according to him “This will go a long way in ameliorating electricity challenges in the state.”
He said there was a need to review and toughen the sanctions and penalties for vandals of electrical infrastructures. Adding that “With electricity, you can do a lot, industries will grow up, small and medium scale industries will grow so we can’t afford to toy with electricity.”
Earlier the Director General State Electrification Agency, Jake Enya whose department handled the procurement process said the initiative is part of the government’s drive to bridge the gap in energy.
Describing electricity as “An invisible catalyst that serves the rural and urban areas”, Jake said it will help in evacuating 25 megawatts from the NIPP plant in Odukpani to Calabar metropolis.
However, a twist occurred in the mood when the Head, Integrated Business Center of the Paradise City main, Calabar unit of the Port-Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, George Chinwo in a rather diplomatic note, accused the state government of frustrating the growth of the company as the government owes the company arrears in bills.
He lamented the rising cases of vandalization of electrical installations with 14 recorded in May and 3 so far recorded in June.
He also decried the battle the company was facing with fraudsters and urged the citizenry to call 09085555055 to report fraud cases and ask for Identity Cards and Job Cards duly signed and approved by the office and announced that more payment options were been worked out with Interswitch to ease the mode of payments.
The procurement according to the state government cost 654 million Naira and underwent a rigorous bidding procedure according to laid down rules.
The Ayade’s administration as part of its’ one year anniversary, commissioned a 3 Mega Watts diesel fired electricity generating plant in Obudu, a water scheme in Ikom and many other projects ongoing across the state as reported by CrossRiverWatch with many state and non state actors placing more emphasis on the signature projects worth over a trillion Naira which have been shrouded in controversy.
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