–Gov. Mohammed accuses marketers of conniving with thieves to steal electrical equipment—
ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi–
Bauchi State Government is spending the sum of N600 million for rural electrification projects across the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Commissioner, Ministry of Power, Science and Technology, Umar Sade, disclosed this while briefing the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, during his inspection tour of projects awarded by his administration within the last two years.
Mr. Sade said that N340 million out of the first approval of N400 million has been spent by the Committee set up to renovate and upgrade facilities in the Ministry.
According to him: “The committee has so far expended the sum of N340million in carrying out the above activities. This amount includes the cost of materials, feeding allowances, fueling, vehicle repairs and servicing and other incidental expenses”.
“The Committee received the sum of N340 million out of the approved N400 million from the state Treasury in three installments which were all judiciously expended to complete Bauchi–Panshanu to Abisa, Adamami–Disina to Jama’are, Jama’are–Itas to Atafowa, Bauchi–Ningi–Nasaru power lines among others.” He said.
However, Governor Mohammed lamented that when he came into power in 2019, most of the electricity proposals that were done by the administration of Adamu Muazu were not functional, therefore subjecting the rural dwellers into darkness.
He commended the committee for the judicious utulization of the N400 million earlier approved for the electrification projects across the state.
The governor also directed the release of additional N200 million to the committee to enable it complete its work.
He accused those selling these electrical equipment as those responsible for the vandalization of the electrical equipment
“I want to commend the youth for rising up to guard and protect these equipment unlike what had happened in the past where thieves were allowed to steal these equipment”.
“We know what is happening. Some of these people selling electrical equipment are the ones conniving with people to steal these equipment. Our eyes are wide open and we are seeing everyone. We have since arrested some of these people stealing these equipment and we will continue arresting them”.
“They should not think they will continue stealing our transformer equipment and take to their stores and expect us to buy them. Most of them are not even from Bauchi and because of this, I call on the people to rise up to protect these equipment,” he stated.
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