…Ijegun, Alapere communities also benefit
LAGOS State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode at the weekend donated a 500kva transformer to residents of Palmgroove Estate in Odi-Olowo Oju­woye Local Council De­velopment Area, as part of the ongoing ‘Light Up Lagos’ initiative.
Ambode also donated transformers to two com­munities in Alapere and Ijegun respectively to boost electricity supply in their localities.
The governor, who was represented at the hand­ing over ceremony by his Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Wale Oluwo, had read about the plight of the residents via a newspaper publication where they ap­pealed to the Ikeja Elec­tricity Distribution Com­pany (IKEDC) to come to their aid to replace their ageing transformers.
The transformer at Palmgroove Estate, ac­cording to the residents, was installed in 1958 and had become problematic in the last 10 years, caus­ing it to develop fault on a weekly basis.
Oluwo, in his remarks, said Ambode was of the view that if the electric­ity distribution companies were not making the right investment, the people would wallow in darkness, hence, his administration is poised to alleviate the suffering of Lagosians.
He recalled the setting up of a committee un­der the governor’s office which included the elec­tricity generation compa­nies, distribution compa­nies, gas suppliers and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, saying the inten­tion of the committee was to intervene as far as pos­sible so as to ensure that the people have access to electricity.
Responding, President of Palmgroove Estate Residents Association, Captain Jide George said the prompt manner with which the governor re­sponded to their plight was worthy of emulation by other leaders. He said it was an eloquent testimony of leadership by example.
“This is very much un­precedented. I never be­lieved that such a thing could happen where you will just put something in the papers and the gover­nor will respond to it ex­peditiously. We are ready to support the efforts of the governor. All of us are behind him and we want to say ‘thank you’ to the governor,” George said.