Socio-economic activities in Bekwarra Local Government, Cross River North are set to resume with a bang following concrete efforts initiated by Senator Jarigbe Jarigbe to restore electricity to the area after a prolonged blackout spanning over 6 years.
Already, contractors have been mobilised to the site for planting over sixty electric poles for mounting several rolls of aluminium conductors stretching from Gakem, Nyanya through Vandeikya to Markudi in Benue to reconnect the area to the national grid.
Speaking in Gakem, the historic town where the first shot signalling the commencement of the Nigeria civil war was fired, a community leader, Chief Odey Simon lauded Senator Jarigbe for the gesture, noting that the development will resuscitate commercial activities which have been in the lull for several years due to lack of public power supply in Bekwara and most parts of Cross River Northern Senatorial District.
“This singular intervention from our Senator is one of the best things he has done given the multiplier effect this is bound to usher into our locality.
“The passion and commitment demonstrated by Senator Jarigbe to the betterment of our people in Cross River North are unprecedented despite his short stint as our Senator. We remain ever grateful and appreciative of this humane disposition”, Odey said.
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Speaking in Aboucheche, the headquarters of Bekwarra Local Government, a youth activist, Agan Sunday expressed delight at the intervention describing it as an answer to prayers.
“We have been groping in darkness for several years now having been disconnected from the national grid courtesy of the ill-fated State Government Independent Power Plant in Obudu which did not last for 6 months after taking off in 2016. Vandals capitalised on the prolonged blackout and vandalised the line from here to Benue thereby prolonging our miseries. Our Senator Jarigbe has done what Napoleon could not do”, Agan said.
Conducting newsmen on inspection of the project, an official of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company which oversees Benue where the line is expected to be linked to the grid revealed that needed materials and equipment including transformers have been provided to ensure speedy completion of the project which he disclosed is under the purview of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs
He implored members of the benefiting communities to ensure adequate security of the facilities to guard against vandalisation by vandals and other unscrupulous elements in the society
It could be recalled that the Paramount Ruler of Bekwarra, HRH Linus Odey had at different fora appealed to the government to restore public power to the local government area, lamenting that the absence of electricity has stagnated economic growth, commerce and economic prosperity despite their abundance of natural endowments.
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