The people of Edatipata in Niger State have expressed frustration over the delayed installation of transformers in their local communities. Despite award of the contracts for the project in 2013, they said, up until the time of this report, nothing had been done.
Sources conversant with the delays confirmed that while some parts of these communities such as Gamunu, Bologi and Gogata were finally able to secure theirs, many including Chegungi, Bafo and Donko are left waiting in vain.
Mr Hosseni Jibrin Bafo, a resident in the community, confirmed that officials had once came visiting around 2015. Although installations began, the project remained uncompleted even till the end of the former Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello.
Mr Bafo confirmed that during the campaign period of Honourable Muhammad Umar Bago the executive governor, concerns raised by community members about the ongoing electric challenges were acknowledged. The governor he recalled, had earlier promised that if elected, he would provide transformers to support their communities.
Several areas of Edatipata, specifically Edati Bafo, Chegungi, and Donko, however, are yet to receive anything despite the assurances.
Isa Mohammed, a resident from Chegungi in Edati LGA, explained that the lack of electricity has caused resident to suffer from water scarcity.
Residents, according to him, suffer from the lack of access to clean watera situation that could have been long-avoided had there been stable electricity to power the water supply systems.
He stated that this is why the people are appealing to the governor, to come to their aid. He noted that they have heard reports suggesting that electricity will soon be restored in communities that have already received transformers. They also heard claims that the electricity installation project in Edatipata has been completed; however, he emphasized that this information is untrue.
Isa Mohamed therefore called on the governor to intervene and ensure the completion of the electricity installation in all affected areas. He mentioned that several communities have not even received electricity wires, while others are yet to be provided with transformers. He appealed for the supply of wires to those areas and the provision of transformers to communities that have not received any.
He further stressed that the people do not want any form of crisis. Rather, they are respectfully calling on the Governor to do the needful by providing the necessary electricity materials so that the project can be completed and power restored to their communities.
Another community member, Malama Fatima, appealed to Governor Bago to assist her community with the provision of transformers. She stated that transformer bases have been constructed in their area since 2015, yet no transformer has been installed to date.
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She emphasized that the lack of electricity has worsened the water challenges faced by the community, particularly by women. According to her, the provision of electricity would greatly ease womens suffering, as they currently travel long distances beyond their villages to fetch water. She explained that water scarcity has made daily activities such as cooking, washing, and even accessing drinking water extremely difficult for women.
Fatima further noted that the provision of electricity would also empower women economically, as it would enable them to engage in various small-scale businesses that require power. She therefore called on the governor to intervene urgently.
She also expressed concern over reports that some electricity materials, especially transformers, were allegedly distributed to individuals who refused to share them with other communities in need. As a result, she appealed directly to the governor to ensure that transformers are provided to their community and that electricity is restored for their benefit.
She concluded by pleading with the governor to intervene and bring electricity to their area in order to ease the suffering of women, particularly in accessing water for domestic use, as nearby rivers are far from their villages and pose additional hardship.
Government tells a different story
When contacted, Honorable Sunday clarified that “the transformers in question were not supplied by the governor. Instead, they were purchased by the Ministry for Local Government on behalf of all local governments across Niger State, with each local government receiving five transformers. He explained that he distributed the transformers across Edati Local Governments three zones: Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C. Specifically, one transformer each was given to Lenfa, Gazhe, Gogata, Bologi, and Tswanku, two in Zone C, two in Zone B, and one in Zone A.
He emphasized that these transformers were part of a statewide allocation and not specifically for Edatipata communities. Therefore, they do not correspond to the transformers originally requested by the affected communities from the governor.
When contacted, Honourable Sunday Yisa Bologi, former chairman of Edati local government stated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government was responsible for awarding the contracts, not him. He indicated that the appropriate source for accurate information on the matter is Honorable Idrisu Ndako Kpaki.
Upon reaching out, Honorable Kpaki confirmed that “The contract was awarded to a company and not to him, and that there is nothing concerning him regarding the matter. He further explained that he has been disengaged from contract-related business since the year 2000, when he contested for the chairmanship.”
Residents of communities that have not yet received transformers fear that electricity may soon be supplied. And if this occurs, it could spark conflict between communities that have benefited from the distribution and those that have not.
Consequently, they are appealing to the relevant authorities to intervene and ensure a fair and equitable resolution.
The residents also explained that the only available source of portable water is the borehole drilled by Honorable Isah Liman Kantigi. However, the engine powering the borehole is almost completely faulty and frequently breaks down, causing them constant problems. They believe that if electricity is provided to their communities, it would significantly ease their suffering.
By: Aliyu AB Yahaya
