POWER SUPPLY FACILITIES: Bayelsa, Rivers To Establish Joint Anti-Vandalism Taskforce

 Worried by the incessant incidents of transmission power lines vandalism, the Bayelsa and Rivers State Governments have resolved to jointly work towards strengthening security architecture to protect power and other critical national assets in their border communities.

This decision followed the outcome of a meeting between the Acting Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Prof. Ngozi Odu at the Brick House in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday.

In his remarks, Senator Ewhrudjakpo underscored the importance of effective collaboration between the two states to tackle power outage and its attendant socio-economic losses occasioned by criminal activities of vandals.

Lamenting that it cost Bayelsa so much political and financial capital to have power restored after a four-month period of blackout, the Acting Governor stressed the need for urgent and drastic measures to forestall the recurrence of such harrowing experience. 

Senator Ewhrudjakpo seized the opportunity to thank the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Prof  Odu, for showing concern over the Bayelsa plight as well as indicating readiness for collaboration to curb the menace.

His words: "For the past four months, the transmission lines between Bayelsa and Ahoada in Rivers State have been vandalized almost three times. And to fix it, TCN was telling us one story after another."

"So, we decided to take it upon ourselves to make sure we fix the line. But having fixed it, what we need to do is to have a team that provides surveillance for that facility so that it will not be easily vandalized again."

"We believe if we have this kind of joint collaboration, it will be easier for our communities to protect the facilities. So we need to have a joint committee that will monitor the line between Rivers and Bayelsa."

Earlier, the Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, had assured the Bayelsa delegation of her state's preparedness to contribute meaningfully towards the fight against transmission lines vandalism.

She said: "We must do something about it because you don't leave your problems or sweep them under the carpet. If you sweep them under the carpet, they remain there. You have to bring them out and find the strategy that works best to solve them."

Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Mrs.  Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai and  her Rivers State Local Government Affairs counterpart, Prince Charles Beke, disclosed that both states had resolved to establish anti-vandalization taskforce committees that will work jointly to check the activities of power vandals.

Mrs. Koku-Obiyai, who emphasized the need for active community engagement in the security arrangements, informed that Bayelsa had already constituted and inaugurated a 10-member anti-vandalism taskforce, which has since commenced operations in the state.

Government officials who accompanied Senator Ewhrudjakpo to the meeting which was at the instance of the Governors of Bayelsa and Rivers State were, the Chief of Staff, Government House, Hon. Peter Akpe, and the Commissioner for Power, Engr Kumoko Kharin.

Others included the Commissioner for Community Development, Hon, Watson Belemote, the Mayor of Yenagoa City, Mr. Bulodisiye Ndiware, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, CP Agberebi Akpoebi (Rtd),  and the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Anti-Vandalization Taskforce, CP Mary George (Rtd).

The Chairman of Ahoada West, Mr. Iyekor Ikporo, and that of Ahoada West, Mr. Chibudum Ezu, were part of the Rivers team, while the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) was represented by Engr. Juliet Ndidi at the meeting.

Signed:

Doubara Atasi

Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor

Bayelsa State