65km Lafiagi-Patigi power project to boost businesses, innovation, youth enterprise

The Kwara State Government has said the newly approved 65-kilometre Lafiagi-Patigi electricity project is expected to create a more conducive environment for businesses, innovation and youth enterprise in the benefiting communities.

The state Commissioner for Youth Development, Ambassador Ndanusa Usman Shehu, said this during a courtesy visit by the Lafiagi Elders Forum to the Ministry of Energy in Ilorin.

Ndanusa described the project as a significant intervention that would positively impact the socio-economic development of Lafiagi and surrounding communities.

“The electricity project is a significant intervention that would positively impact the socio-economic development of Lafiagi by creating a more conducive environment for businesses, innovation and youth enterprise,” he said.

The project involves the construction of a 65km 33KV overhead electricity line feeder from the Jebba Paper Mills Injection Substation to Bokungi Village, Gbugbu, Patigi and other neighbouring communities.

The Kwara State Government approved the project on July 31 as part of efforts to improve electricity supply and stimulate economic activities in the affected areas.

The Commissioner for Energy, AbdulAzeez Kola AbdulGaniy, who received the elders’ forum, said the project was expected to be completed within 14 weeks after the contractor’s mobilisation.

He said the intervention would cover the construction of the 65km overhead line, rehabilitation of the Jebba/Bacita 33KV feeder and extension of electricity infrastructure to Patigi, Gbugbu and other neighbouring communities.

AbdulGaniy said the ministry would organise stakeholder and community engagement meetings involving the contractor and relevant communities to address security and other issues that may arise during the execution of the project.

He appealed to residents of Lafiagi and other benefiting communities to cooperate with the contractor and ensure the safety of personnel handling the project.

The commissioner assured that all benefiting communities would be adequately catered for, describing the intervention as part of efforts to address the longstanding electricity needs of the area and support its socio-economic development.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Social Development, Dr Mariam NnaFatima Imam, urged the people to support and engage constructively with the state government, saying community ownership and cooperation were important to the successful implementation and sustainability of public projects.

Earlier, Chairman of the Lafiagi Elders Forum, retired Justice Adams Idris, described the electricity project as a timely intervention for Lafiagi and its neighbouring communities.

He commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and expressed the forum’s readiness to work with the contractor and the Ministry of Energy to ensure the successful implementation and completion of the project.