After 6 years of electricity blackout, Sen Jarigbe provides succour to C’River community
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Six years after electricity supply was interrupted in Bekwarra, Northern Cross River State, hope for public power supply has been rekindled.
This follows the intervention of the lawmaker representing the area in the National Assembly, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.
The community which is largely agrarian has been bearing the brunt of electricity blackout despite several pleas and appeals to the relevant authorities.
An independent power plant initiated by the state government seven years ago to serve the five local government areas that make up the area has since become a failed project.
This plunged the area into extensive darkness which has crippled small scale businesses in the area that depend on public power supply to thrive.
However, in a major development for the community, contractors have been mobilized to the site for planting of over 60 electric poles for mounting several rolls of aluminium conductors.
The poles will stretch from Gakem, Nyanya through Vandekia to Markudi in Benue to reconnect the area to the national grid.
Chief Odey Simon, a community leader lauded Senator Jarigbe for the gesture, noting that the development will resuscitate commercial activities.
He said the area has been in the lull for several years due to lack of public power supply in not just Bekwara but 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 is unprecedented despite his short stint as our Senator. We remain ever grateful and appreciative of this humane disposition”, he said.
Speaking in Aboucheche, the headquarters of Bekwara Local Government, a youth advocate, 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.
“The power plant did not last for 6 months after taking off in 2016 and vandals capitalized on the prolonged blackout by vandalizing the line from here to Benue thereby prolonging our miseries”, he said.
