Delay in completion of 330 KV Akurba substation, Provokes Gov Sule’

From Francis Nansak

Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule,on Wednesday was practically annoyed over perceived avoidable delays in the completion of the 330 KV power substation located at Akurba.

His expression of displeasure was reached owing to the deliberate inability by the contractor handling the installations of a project that was long expected to have been completed when he inspected progress of work at the site of the project.

Engineer Sule who was visibly angry over the inability of the contractor handling the project for none completion of the installations in time, vowed to intervene and to approach all parties concerned, in order for the project to come on board.

In a chat with journalists at the project site, the Governor lamented the power situation, especially in Lafia, the state capital, where residents enjoy only 1-2 hours of electricity daily, as residents were left to depend on generators for power.

According to him” The Government House is run on generator, almost for 24 hours. This does not make sense, especially at a period like this when people should be saving.

“A state like Nasarawa should be saving money, not wasting money on diesel and then generating power from a source that is even unhealthy even to human life,” he stated.

Engineer Sule promised to follow up on the matter, to ensure the project is completed in a short time.

Available information indicate that the 330 KV Akurba power substation was unnecessarily delayed for over three months because of the inability of the contractor to evacuate vital equipment that were manufactured outside the country but we’re been delayed at the country’s sea port in Lagos.

According to the Governor, the only thing remaining as far as the substation is concerned, was the line-in, line-out, to drop the major line,that will take out power from the station.

He explained that the disagreement between the Nigeria Custom Service and the Federal Ministry of Finance on the method of payment of duties, was responsible for the delay in clearing the equipment and ferrying such to Lafia for installation.

“Initially I had thought the equipment had not been manufactured, as they have to be manufactured outside the country and then brought in.

“But I learnt few days ago that they have been manufactured, shipped, and have even arrived in Nigeria, over three months ago. But because of some disagreements as a result of the new style of payment for duties, between the customs and Ministry of Finance, occasioned by the online payment, that is what was causing the delay,” the Governor said.

Engineer Sule said nevertheless the delay was avoidable.

“We have had three months delay for this project, which is completely unnecessary. Because this project should have been completed in December, with all the efforts that have been put here” he added.

The Governor however promised to interface with all the necessary agencies, in order to facilitate the quick evacuation of the equipment from Lagos, adding that hopefully, the equipment will be in Lafia within one week.