The long suffering people of Sapele town in Delta State in deep anger have stated their determination to shut down Sapele power station unless the Federal Government pays immediate attention to their plight and arranges to supply the town with light regularly and consistently. Their anger and frustration, they claim, are justifiable in view of the fact that Sapele power station supplies 30 per cent of NEPA’s generating capacity.
But all of it goes into the national grid. Sapele is therefore the only location where the power generated is not stepped down for use by the local communities. All the other locations e.g. Jebba, Kainji, Shiroro, Ughelli and Afam enjoy step down facilities .
Investigation showed that when the major Thermal Power Plant located at Ogorode/Sapele in Delta State was commissioned in 1978 by the then Military Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo, the Federal Government assured the local communities that a grid substation would be constructed in Sapele to provide the town with electricity directly from the power station to ensure more reliable power supply to the host communities.
In spite of the fact that Sapele town is host to one of the largest power stations in the country, the irregularity of power supply to the town has paralysed all commercial, industrial, and social activities in the town. This in turn has had adverse effects on the life of the host communities and is a major contributory factor in the high rise of criminal activities and restiveness of youths in the areas.
As a result of repeated appeals by the communities over the years and the provision of a vast expanse of land for the proposed substations by the host communities, the 132/33KV, 30MVA substation project was finally committed by the Federal Government NEPA only in 2002.
The contractor, News Engineering Ltd., mobilised at the Amukpe/Sapele project site in late 2002 carried out some preliminary site activities (i.e. clearing of site, levelling and sand filling etc). It was gathered that the major items/equipment required for the project (30MVA, 132/33KV transformer, circuit breakers, etc) have been delivered and are awaiting completion of the necessary civil works before the equipment are moved to site.
Sapele community had hoped that when NEPA initiated action on the construction of the 132/33KV step-down sub-station at Amukpe/Sapele over two years ago the much awaited relief would soon be provided. However, the contractor has since abandoned work at the project site due to payment problems.
The Sapele/Okpe communities are, therefore, appealing to the Federal Government through NEPA to take necessary action and issue appropriate directives that would facilitate and ensure that the contractor re-mobilizes and executes the project expeditiously.
Virtually all industrial, commercial, and social activities in Sapele and its environs have come to a halt. This situation is creating a lot of social unrest especially amongst the youths and it has resulted in an increase in criminal and anti-socio activities in the area.
Sapele people in their despair suddenly seem to have new worries over the darkness that daily envelopes the town. It is rumoured that some commissioners in Asaba, Delta State, seat of government are rooting for the substation to be taken to Oghara instead of the already prepared site at Amukpe-Eku road junction.
It is believed that unless Gov. James Ibori decides rightly and canvasses and co-operates with NEPA and the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel to instal the project in Sapele, the high cosmopolitan communities of Sapele town will be short changed yet again. In that event the people of Sapele town know who to blame-the Delta State government for not actively following up on a project that has been committed by the Federal Government since 2002.
