Rural Electrification: Edo Takes Delivery Of New Transformers

The Edo Government has taken delivery of 85 new transformers to boost its rural electrification programme.

The Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Mr Chris Ebare, told newsmen in Benin that the transformers were all?of 500 KVAs.

He explained that each community would?be given between three and five units depending on its population.

Ebare said this was to ensure that all rural communities in the state were fully connected to the national grid by the end of 2013.

He added that currently, 95 per cent of the state had been connected to the national grid.

Ebare said that the remaining five per cent yet to be connected would be done in no distant time, as the government had directed communities not connected to come forth and inform it.

He explained that, government had identified some communities in Orhiowon, Ovia North East and Esan South East local government areas that were yet to be connected to the national grid.

The commissioner further said that the state government had commenced the replacement of wooden poles with concrete ones.

Ebare also expressed government’s determination to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target of potable water by year 2020.

He said that government had approved the replacement of all asbestos pipes in collaboration with the ministry of works.

He said that the collaboration was to ensure that provision was made for laying of water pipes to homes as the ministry carried out road construction.