From Ochei Matthew, Asaba
No fewer than 120 transformers have been allegedly diverted by the Commissioner for Power and Energy in Delta State, Hon. New-world Safugha.
Investigation revealed that the transformers were procured for distribution to some communities in the state to boost their power supply by the former administration of Governor Emannuel Uduaghan under the former Commissioner, Hon. Charles Emetulu. However, the transformers were not distributed before the Uduaghan tenure lapsed.
The 500kv transformers were kept at the Commissioners’ Quarters of Government House, Asaba by Emetulu, with a view to distributing them on application by the communities in need of the power equipment.
However, Safugha insisted that the transformers were still at the Commissioners’ Quarters of Government House, Asaba.
But The Dream Daily’s checks at Commissioners’ Quarters of Government House, Asaba to ascertain Safugha’s claims showed that the transformers have been removed from storage.
Many communities are living in darkness as a result of non-availability of transformers and other power equipment in Delta State, including the people of Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha North Council who have been in darkness for over 10 years.
In a bid to solve the power problem in Ogwashi-Uku, one of the community’s sons, Mr. Mike Nwaukoli, reportedly donated N20 million to the Ogwashi-uku Development Union (ODU) three months ago.
But there are allegations that the ODU executives collaborated with Safugha and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to siphon the money and no transformer was supplied to Ogwashi-Uku.
The Dream Daily put several calls to the known phone lines of Safugha and the chairman of ODU for their reactions to the allegations but the duo did not pick these calls as at the time of going to press.
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