We get 10 requests for transformers daily - Lagos

Lagos State Government on Wednesday has said it receives an average of 10 requests for transformers on a daily basis from communities across the state.

Commissioner for Rural Development, Cornelius Ojelabi, said this during the inauguration of some installed transformers in six communities.

Ojelabi said government intervened  in the distribution of transformers to communities because there were a lot of demands for them as the few transformers provided by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria were often overloaded. He however added that government would soon stop the gesture.

He said, "This is part of the dividends of democracy to our people. It is your money which you paid in form of tax that was used in providing this project.

"On a daily basis, the ministry gets up to 10 requests for transformers from various communities across the state. Out of the 140 transformers distributed to communities, the government has been able to install 90 of them, while the remaining 60 transformers would soon be installed. So far, about N900m has been spent on the installations.

"But government is winding up the distribution of transformers to communities as private bodies will soon take over the affairs of the Power Holding Company any moment from now. Once that one happens, the ministry will start focusing on rural electrification programme."

Ojelabi warned people vandalising transformers installed by government to desist. He also urged members of community development associations to protect government's installations.

He added, "This is your property. Your representatives in the Lagos State House of Assembly facilitated the installation of these transformers. The onus is on you to safeguard the transformers given to you by the government.

"If you protect government's property in your areas, it will encourage the government to do more."


Punch