Kwara communities appeal to government for new transformer

Eleven communities in the Ali-Ara, Wara, Osin and Egbejila Ward of Ilorin West local government area of Kwara state have sent a save-our-soul (SOS) message to the state government for provision of a new electricity transformer. 

In a save our soul statement to the state government, signed by Abdulazeez Bankole and Abdulrafiu Olaiya, chairman and assistant chairman, Electricity Committee of the area respectively, the people said the communities had suffered inconvenience and loss due to the long period they had been in darkness. 

The ward is made up of 11 communities, namely, Ali-Ara Adedoyin, Ifesowapo, Ajara, Agogo, Ambassador, Budo-Oke, Egoo, Ojuolape, Orelope Temiodara, and Temiodara Annex.

The people, who recalled that the 200KVA transformer serving the 11 communities in the area had been overloaded due to growing population, said that it got damaged a few months ago. 

“The number of houses within the communities that the transformer was serving at its installation over 20 years ago have increased astronomically. As a result of the overloading, the communities in question have been experiencing intermittent darkness.

 “On a few occasions, the voltage became so low that it could not power anything due to its very low current.

“However, several repairs and maintenance had been carried out by the above communities on the said transformer without waiting for the government or IBEDC to keep it functioning; until a few months ago when the transformer totally packed up.  

“Officials of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) were contacted, and we were made to acknowledge the fact that the transformer is damaged beyond repairs and required total replacement with a new one.

“It must also be rightly revealed that these communities are mostly peasant farmers with pockets of civil servants and taken into cognizance the meagre income of the people, it would be a mirage to undertake the purchase of a new transformer which might take eternity to achieve. 

“Presently, the entire community is in total darkness and life has become unbearable for us all ever since then.

“As law-abiding citizens of Kwara state, who have been exercising our civil responsibility whenever the need arises politically and otherwise, we urgently seek the intervention of the government for the procurement of a new transformer, that will alleviate the sufferings of the people (electricity wise).  

“Going by the kind heartedness, humanitarian ideologies and the government’s inclination towards the comfort of Kwarans generally, it is the belief and faith of the people that this cry for the assistance of the government of Kwara state will be met with utmost urgency.

“While counting on the prompt response of the government to this SOS (save our souls), please accept the assurances and high esteem of the entire communities”, the statement read.