From Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki
The governor of Ebonyi state, Francis Nwifuru yesterday blamed the nation’s Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) of bastardizing his plan of erecting energy grid which would propel the state; towards becoming an industrialized State.
The governor mentioned that the approval and visibility study by TCN
and the commencement of work at Amasiri site by the contractor were taken unnecessary period not minding having entered agreement with both parties.
Nwifuru who spoke his mind for barely 2 hours at a Thanksgiving service to mark the state 2025 Thanksgiving service, held at centennial City, Abakaliki the state capital on Sunday, revealed that Amasiri transmission line had 90 percent cost already paid to the contractor.
According to him,”The problem that I’m having in industrialising our dear state till now is electricity and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is compounding the problem the more.
“I contacted the TCN to build that 300 KVA and when I contacted they the also told me the bitter truth that we cannot wait for federal government to do it.
“And we decided to do that project with TCN and since that last year, the visibility study is still on. And who is doing the visibility study? TCN. And this study is something a private firm can do within 2 or 3 weeks,”he said.
The governor who expressed dismay over the possibilities of the two projects, revealed that the Amasiri power transmission line which was awarded during the reign of President Goodluck Jonathan’s led administration, paid 90 percent cost to the contractor.
“And last 2 years they said they needed about over 1 billion and 700 dollars and the state paid them and we entered into contract and till today the job is still not completed.
“That is the politics why I have not done anything in building any industries in the state cos we need electricity for it to work.
“The one presently being allocated to the state is not enough to power industries. That is the challenges and TCN and the contractor are contributing to the problem despite our willingness to fund the projects.
“And we have been chasing the contractors and we kept getting silly excuses; I’m in London today and US tomorrow.
“The last discussion I had with TCN the excuse they gave is that there are some unpaid compensation and I told them that I will pay.
“Just show us the buildings, and up till now they have not shown us any building or person to pay to”,he said.
However, the state has also inaugurated economic team with the aim of building another Cement industry or reclaim the famous moribund Nigercem cement factory located at Nkalagu in Ishielu local government area of the state from the core investor, Ibeto group of companies.
