Ebonyi Assembly,  Partners To Take Electricity To Rural Dwellers 

By; MKPUMA ENYINNA, Abakaliki

 The Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee on Power and Energy, led by its chairman, Igu Chikezie Nwankwo has carried its oversight function visit to the office of the Chairman Ebonyi State Rural Electrification Board to seek a synergy between the duo as a way to ensure that  electricity projects  are extended to rural areas.

Speaking during the visit, the chairman of the committee and member representing Ohaozara East Constituency, Igu Chikezie Nwankwo, highlighted  the importance of the board to the well being of Ebonyi people, stressing that its function is targeting   upliftment of standard of living in the rural areas.

The committee chairman expressed concerns over poor assessment of 2025 budget of the board, which was at zero per cent and urged the Rural Electrification Board to be alive to its responsibilities.

 Igu Chikezie assured the board that the committee will do all  it takes for the agency to perform optimally,  especially as the present administration under the leadership of Francis Ogbonnia Nwifuru with his policy of People’s Charter of Needs.

 He commended the state governor for the appointment of credible people into the Ebonyi State Rural Electrification Board and further promised that the House Committee will establish a symbiotic relationship with the Board in the areas of need and that the attention of the State Government will be drawn to the challenges observed.

In their separate speeches the Deputy Chief whip of the House representing Ishielu South, Arinze Lucas Chukwu, the member representing Izzi West Constituency, Abiri Godwin Abiri and member representing Izzi East Hon Obinna Mbam said the visit was  to see how the budget for the Board is being assessed especially now they are at the end of second quarter of the year and directed that the Board should forward the income and expenditure of the Board to the committee.

They commended the Chairman of the Board Engr Godwin Nwankwo for the cleanliness of his office and implored the chairman to maintain it.

Earlier the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Rural Electrification Board Engr Godwin Nwankwo while chronicling the achievements of the Board said his Board  has toured 171 electoral wards in Ebonyi State to find out the status of electricity in rural areas stating that his administration has seen to the completion of the Double Circuit 132kV line from mile 50 to Amasiri, rehabilitation of vandalized substation at Ochudo City, Abakaliki among others.

He lauded the committee for the visit  which he said,  would be reciprocated by working towards the achievements of the  objectives behind the People’s Charter of Needs of present administration.