National grid: FG to reconnect eight Sokoto LGs

The Federal Government has commenced an assessment tour of the eight local government areas of Sokoto East Senatorial Zone that have been without electricity for close to a decade with a view to restoring power supply to them.

The federal government delegation led by the Director, Distribution, Federal Ministry of power, Mustafa Baba Umarah, said the assessment team would carefully study the nature of the problems causing the blackout in the affected communities and report back to the Federal Government for necessary action.

“The Federal Government is committed towards ensuring that all Nigerians enjoy electricity supply irrespective of where they live,” he said.

Speaking on the assessment exercise, Sokoto State Commissioner for Energy, Sanusi Dan Fulani, said the idea was to get first hand information on the nature and the gravity of the problem leading to the total black out in the eight local government areas of the State.

According to him, “the plan to restore electricity supply to the affected communities is part of effort by the Gov. Ahmed Aliyu- led administration to boost economic activities especially among the rural dwellers.

“Electricity supply is the bedrock of development of every society without which the society may not have a viable economy.

“Our Governor has been worried over the total blackout in the eastern zone of the State, especially being the area the food basket of the State.

“That was why he mandated my Ministry to write to the Federal Government seeking for its intervention in the restoration of electricity supply to these eight local governments of the State,” he added

The Commissioner added that the work will gulp between four to five billion Naira, and appealed for support from the benefitting communities to ensure its success.

According to Dan Fulani, the state government would soon introduce motorised boreholes to be given to the rural communities with a view to enhancing agricultural activities and boost food sufficiency in the State.

“We are trying to use the energy sector to reduce poverty and create job opportunities among our people,” Dan Fulani added.

The eight local government areas to be reconnected to the national grid include Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Wurno, Rabah, Gada, Illela, Gwadabawa.

The commissioner further said, “these local government areas have been without electricity for close to a decade now, but with the current effort being put in place by the State and Federal Governments, the story will soon be a thing of the past”.