Senator Nicholas Tofomowo, representing Ondo South Senatorial District has assured some communities in the district of reconnection to the national power grid in 2022, after 14 years blackout.

Mr Tofowomo gave the assurance during a facility tour of the ongoing power installation sub-station in Erinje, Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.

The sub-station is being constructed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The communities in Okitipupa, Irele, Odigbo, Ese-Odo and Ilaje Local Government Areas (LGAs), were disconnected from the national grid by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over an alleged debt running to several millions of naira.

On September 21, the senator had lamented the 14 years blackout at the senate plenary which made the senate compel NDDC to move back to the project site.

Mr Tofowomo said that he was impressed with the 95 per cent level of work at the 33 MW sub-station, saying communities in the district would enjoy an uninterrupted power supply by the Easter celebration in 2022.

“It’s so disheartening that the Southern part of the state can be in blackout for 14 years while Okitipupa LGA hosted Omotosho Power Plant and the Erinje power sub-station.

“I thank the senate president for allowing me to move the motion at the plenary and I thank the Senate for intervening in the case and also thank the NDDC for moving back to the site to complete the sub-station.

“The project is now at 95 per cent completion and I urge constituents to be patient with the contractors. I can assure them that they will celebrate next year’s Easter with an uninterrupted power supply,” Mr Tofowomo said.

Meanwhile, a community leader in Erinje, Solomon Bitire, thanked the youths of the area for not disrupting activities at the site of the sub-station.

He also thanked the Bring Back Our Light (BBOL) group, convened by Olumide Akinrinlola, who first championed the struggle all through the 14 years of blackout.

“We thank all stakeholders who have contributed to this struggle, especially the NDDC, Tofowomo and BBOL. I pray that at the end we will witness electricity again in this district,” Mr Bitire said.