Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has assured investors and the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), of his desire to address land litigations hindering power transmission projects in the state.

Mr Mbah said the action became necessary in order to drive his administration’s industrial revolution.

The governor gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the management of the TCN Enugu, led by the regional general manager, Emmanuel Akpa, at the Enugu Government House on Wednesday.

He said his administration was determined to attract investors from across the globe to the state, pledging to do everything possible to ensure investment flow by enabling the ease of doing business.

According to the governor, steady power supply was one of the major elements that investors look out for, especially in a state seeking to improve its economy through industrialisation. 

He stressed that the administration would seize the opportunity presented by the TCN to increase the state’s megawatts to address all the impediments highlighted by the company.

He said that the state government was interested in the challenges presented by the TCN and would engage the host communities and other parties in courts against the company to ensure speedy resolution of the disputes outside the court.

“We are going to look at all the pending litigations and resolve them out of court expeditiously.

“We are also doing this for our own interest because we want to attract industries, and power is essential to achieving that,” the governor explained.

He added that the state had been a public service state and that the government planned to change the status quo to a private sector-driven economy, stressing that it could only be possible with more electricity supply.

“We see this as an opportunity to see how we can work together with you in partnership and how to realize our dreams of making the state one of the top three states in Nigeria in terms of the gross domestic product,” he added.

Earlier, Mr Akpa said his team was in government house to discuss issues that were of mutual benefit to both the company and the state as they affected power transmission.

He informed the governor that a 150MVA 330/132/33KV power transformer which would boost the electricity supply in the state was under installation, noting that the 2x60MVA 132/33KV substation at 9th Mile had been completed and awaiting commission.

Mr Akpa disclosed that the TCN had commenced the building of a mobile substation close to the Nike Lake for 63MVA 132/33KV mobile transformer to further boost supply of power in the area and its environs.

The manager, however, lamented that some of the challenges facing the company in the state included litigations from various communities arising from right of way and the activity of vandals.

He appealed to the governor for intervention to enhance power supply in the state.

(NAN)