Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said electricity from the state’s independent power project will not be free, stressing that residents must pay for the service once supply begins.
Governor Diri gave the clarification on Wednesday during an inspection of the power plant at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area, where six of the eight 60-megawatt gas turbines procured by the state recently arrived.
He assured that the project would be completed before Christmas, saying Bayelsa was on course to enjoy uninterrupted power supply for the first time.
“I gave this year as the deadline and we are sticking to it. By God’s grace, before Christmas these turbines will be fired up and Bayelsa will begin to enjoy 24-hour power supply,” the governor told journalists at the site.
He explained that although the state is endowed with gas resources, operating the turbines comes at a cost. “It is not free. To maintain these machines and procure gas, money has to be spent. For us to enjoy constant light, everyone must pay according to their consumption,” he added.
The governor also disclosed that his administration had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jampur Group to set up a metering plant in the state, ensuring that power consumers are billed transparently.
Also speaking, Commissioner for Power, Kharin Komuko, described the development as a major breakthrough for the administration, recalling that many doubted the governor’s pledge when the project was first announced.
Similarly, the Managing Director of Bayelsa State Electricity Company, Engr. Olice Kemenanabo, explained that the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) would work with the state to avoid disputes over distribution rights.
Kemenanabo disclosed that PHEDC’s existing network of more than 400 transformers across Bayelsa would be used to supply power to homes and businesses.
On his part, Jampur Group’s Project Manager, Mr. Sharif Abu, assured that the project was on schedule and would be delivered on time.
Governor Diri later inspected the ongoing 25,000-capacity Olympic-standard stadium at Igbogene and the nine-storey civil service secretariat at Ovom, Yenagoa.
He was accompanied by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, Speaker of the House of Assembly Abraham Ingobere, Secretary to the State Government Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, and other top officials.
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