The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has commissioned a 1000KVA solar-powered electricity project in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State.
The project initiated by the Deputy Speaker is expected to bring reliable and sustainable power to Bende headquarters and its environs.
While addressing the community during the commissioning, Kalu emphasized the importance of community involvement in the success of the project.
The solar power project is designed to serve the community for a long time, with a battery life of up to 25 years.
The project involves generating electricity at a central point and distributing it through transformers located across the community.
Mr. Kalu expressed his frustration at the difficulty of gaining access to land to site the project. He revealed that he had to build the solar farm on his own land after failed attempts elsewhere. He called on the community to grant access to land, help sustain the project, and ensure its benefits are felt by all.
Highlighting the challenges faced in connecting Bende to the national grid, including the cost of repairing and replacing faulty transformers, the Deputy Speaker announced that work is currently ongoing to reconnect communities such as Uzuakoli, Ozuitem and Bende Headquarters to the national grid from Alaoji power station.
“This one is 1000KVA, and there is another 1000KVA coming, and they are going to be spread across the Bende community. We have registered the whole thirteen wards in Bende Federal Constituency to receive a project like this, but we are still waiting for them to give us land. The federal government needs a location to site them.
“There are two locations: one is the generation point, where the electricity is generated, and the next one is the distribution point, where the transformers will work. And we are going to use as many transformers as possible.
“The ones we carried, we have repaired them and brought them back, and the next step will be installation. To develop a community, all hands must join. So you people should come together, because I cannot be doing everything. You have a role to play, and I have mine. Sustaining this community is in your hands.” Mr. Kalu said.
While appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and commitment to community development, Kalu said that electricity power will enable small scale businesses to thrive and generally enhance productivity.
He also called for the setting up of a vigilante group within the community to protect the critical power infrastructure.
“We must also build a strong vigilante group to protect this project”, he said.
In a related development, the Deputy Speaker also donated a newly built 2 bedroom bungalow to a widow, Mrs. Mgbadu Kalu Madukwem and her son, Mr. Onyebuchi Kalu Madukwem of Ndi Kalu compound at Agbamunzu Village, Umuoche Autonomous Community, Bende, Bende LGA of Abia State.
Handing over the key of the house to the family, Kalu recalled that the thought of building the house struck him some months ago during an evening walk with his children around the community.
He also promised to do more for the people of the constituency to appreciate them for electing him as their representative.
“Sometimes ago, I was strolling around the village with my children, I saw a mud house here that was in a very bad shape with a leaking roof, about to collapse on the occupants and I made a promise that I will build something better. The man of the house was still alive at the time. I am happy that we have been able to achieve that today.
“We have also discovered some mud houses around Bende. We are going to make sure we rebuild those mud houses, starting from this January. We will go from community to community. I can’t bear sleeping in a good apartment whereas those who sent me to Abuja are sleeping in mud houses with leaking roofs. It’s not good. I am happy that we are giving a brand new house to a family that did not expect it. They didn’t even ask me for it. They didn’t come to me and say build a house for us. I was the one who went to them and promised to build a house for them and today we have completed it to the Glory of God”, he said.
In their separate remarks, Mrs. Mgbadu Kalu Madukwem and her son who were overwhelmed by emotions expressed profound gratitude to the Deputy Speaker for his kind gestures, praying God to bless him abundantly.