Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured that the first phase of the ongoing ‘Light-up Edo’ project, to recreate a night economy and enhance security of life and property, will be completed before next year.
Obaseki gave the assurance while addressing journalists in Benin City after inspecting several project sites including Akpakpava Road, Mission Road and Ezoti Street, all in Benin City.
The governor said, “I am on the road to ensure that the project meets the deadline this year. The first phase of the ‘Light up Edo’ project must be completed by December 31st this year.
“You set deadlines so that they can be met and we are insisting and ensuring that our deadline for the first phase of the project is met. So, I am calling everybody who is part of the project team out so that this first phase is completed this year.”
He further noted, “We realized there are some quick wins, some areas that are already energized and we felt that we can take advantage of the quick wins this holiday season like Mission Road for instance.
All that is required is energizing the transformer from Ossiomo power to lighten up all of Mission Road and New Benin Market, down to Dawson Street, among others, which is just a work of a few days.”
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Electricity, Victor Obanor, said one of the reasons for the delay in the project completion is as a result of vandalism of the cables, noting that the ministry will not compromise quality for speed.
He stated, “The life span of the bulb was just one year, which His Excellency had rejected that it must be five years. So, we are planning to change all of them.
“The transformer that we currently installed is 300 KVA. It’s going to cover all the adjoining streets.”
