Kngsley Omonobi
21 April 2004
interview
The National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) in Delta State has been having problems with its distribution particularly in Warri and adjourning areas. Aside from this it has had running battles with those it call saboteurs.
In this interview, Principal Manager (Transmission) at the Delta Power Works Centre, Ughelli, Engr. Austin .C. Okala explain why and further warns of impending dangers.
What is the present situation of Delta Power Station?
Delta Power Station is currently generating so much load to the National grid and it is a back -- up some how because once there is a system collapse, we will be called upon to come up and rescue the situation before any other station in the country.
What is the threat about possible blackout nationwide that is making the rounds?
The activities of those people excavating sand under the NEPA high tension is an economic sabotage. That is the way to describe it because the effects of coIIapsing these towers would be enormous to the nation. This is something that would be difficult for the nation to put back because it took years and so much resources to put them there. We are against their activities because it is happening on NEPA's right of way and NEPA has paid for this right of way over 40 years ago.
Are you saying that even those people living in the community where these high tension towers pass cannot touch the sand at all?
Nobody has the right to come to the tower to do anything under our line. It is not accepted at all. For you information, this Delta Power Transmission line, goes through Benin to Oshogbo, the National Control Centre and this line carries 230 KW to this centre. If it collapses, the Nation will be in blackout and we cannot afford that to happen because it will require enormous funds to put it back. That is why we are fighting to make sure that this unpatriotic attitude stops.
So what is the next step NEPA is taking to avoid this calamity?
We are appealing for' an end to this because I know many of the people involved do not know the implications of what they are doing. We are trying to get these excavators together to enlighten them as well as appeal to people in the areas in question (that is the stretch from Effurun to Sapele) to ensure that these things are stopped immediately. Another thing is that this area is a swampy terrain and when you excavate sand, the towers loose their balance and are bound to fall after sometime.
Give us an idea of what it takes to erect this towers.
Erecting just one tower alone runs into several million of naira. With the damage already done to the area, NEPA is going to spend a lot of money to get back -- up to reinforce these towers so that they do not fall, otherwise after sometime, these towers will give way.
Engr. Okala continues -- Right now, our people (engineers) are set to do trace clearing without cutting the grasses and trees under the lines. But the youths of these areas are preventing them from doing the work. They seize their tools, making all sorts of demands. As I am talking to you now, at Adeje and Okwabude, they have seized the tools of those doing trace clearing for us and this is very bad. If the trace clearing is not done, these lines will be here without carrying power to anywhere.
What are the consequences?
Our station will not get power to supply. So the earlier they leave the people doing trace clearing to do their works, the better for everybody including all Deltans. Another thing is that right now, because of the GAS maintenance job is going on at the Nigeria gas company, most of the gas being supplied to Egbin power station, has been cut off. So the whole nation is actually relying on Delta Power station for now. So if anything causes our inability to distribute what is being generated, the nation will be thrown into darkness.
What have you done about involving security agents?
Now that we have appealed to them to stop excavation, if they (tipper drivers) still continue their unpatriotic acts then we will be free to take a drastic action. We will bring in security men who will now have to arrest and prosecute tern because it is a threat to the nation.
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