From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Power engineers have backed appeals by the management of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) for speedy completion of ongoing power installation projects in its franchise area to enable it boost supply.
According to a Statement signed by KEDCO’s Head of Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Sani Shawai, the Kano State Chapter of the Nigerian Institution of Power Engineers (NIPE) has recommended the speedy completion of Rimin-Zakara 330/132KV and Walalanbe 132/33KV as well as Kaduna-Kano 330KV Line in order to boost power supply to Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States.
The Statement added that in a recommendation issued and signed by Engr. David Omoloye, Kano state Chairman of NIPE, the speedy completion of the projects will improve the socio-economic lives of residents of the three states.
Engr. Omoloye who is also the Chief Technical Officer of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) led his team on a working visit to two of the on-going projects in Rimin-Zakara and Walalambe sub-stations to ascertain the status of the projects which are overdue for commissioning.
Following observations from the visit, the institution issued recommendations on the need for the projects to be completed in view of its huge potential on the economy of the states considering the agricultural potentials of the states.
In a similar vein, the Institution recommended that to avoid the recurrent power projects failure in Nigeria, compliance with the procurement act should be strict while violators should be duly sanctioned.
“Government should ensure strict compliance with right of way to protect lives and properties of citizens while the implementation of local content act should not be compromised during contract award so as to create employment and increase human capacity development,” the statement added.
