Restoration of electricity excites Kebbi residents
Residents of Birnin Kebbi and its environs have expressed their excitement following restoration of power supply to the area by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) after two weeks of total blackout.
The Voice Media Trust (VMT NEWS) recalls that the blackout was due to fire outbreak that engulfed two transformers at the TCN substation in Birnin Kebbi on Sept. 14.
VMT NEWS also recalls that during the unfortunate incident one 90MVA (330KV/132KV) and a 60MVA (132KV/33KV) transformers were completely razed down.
A cross section of people in the state capital who spoke to NAN in separate interviews openly expressed their joy, describing the power restoration as a good news towards a happy independence anniversary celebration in advance.
Malam Umar Faruq, a resident of Birnin Kebbi, confirmed that people were actually happy for the power restoration because light had become part of life, adding that without electricity life will not be smooth as expected.
He, however, lamented that some unpatriotic people used the opportunity to vandalise some transformers, carted away armoured cables, noting that even though light is restored but many areas will not enjoy electricity now due to vandalism of transformers.
Faruq called on people to assist in safeguarding public facilities for the good of all, saying: “We shouldn’t see transformers as a public property but our personal property because everybody benefit from it, hence the need for all to protect it from vandalism.
“Safeguarding these facilities is supposed to be a responsibility for all, we must be very conscious of public property. In view of this, we need to imbibe the spirit of maintenance culture.”
He also appealed to security agencies to swing into action with a view to fishing out the bad eggs whose desire was to throw people into prolong darkness.
On his part, Mr Olarenwaju Lawal, said they were relieved because in the last two weeks many people couldn’t pump water to fill their water tanks.
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He said on the contrary, they used rain water to wash plates and clothes as well as flush their toilets, adding: “Now that the light is back I have already pumped up water to fill our tank, we are really happy.”
Lawal lauded the efforts of TCN engineers and their technical team for working round the clock to restore power to Kebbi and other neighbouring states, saying “this is worthy of commendation”.
Alhaji Mohammed Garba, anotherr resident, observed that the two weeks of total blackout was akin to period of dark age, adding that people must now understand the value of electricity to human existence and manage it appropriately
Garba encouraged electricity customers in all areas to value and appreciate the significance of power and try on their own possible ways to protect electricity facilities from vandalism.
VMT NEWS reports that electricity supply was restored to Birnin Kebbi on Sept. 29, at about 5p.m.
