Politically speaking, power supply to Owerri, the capital of Imo state and environs is quite erratic as the two lines presently supplying these areas are weak and not stable. Currently, Owerri receives supply on 2 X 132KV Alaoji/Owerri lines. The state capital suffers from poor power supply in terms of quantity and quality, which is adversely affecting socio-economic activities in Owerri that doubles as both the political and commercial capital of Imo state and environs.
It is time to draw the attention of prominent sons and daughters of Imo state to become more responsive and sensitive to the yearnings of their people by collaborating to put pressure on the federal government so as to improve power supply to the state by harvesting from a low hanging fruit of an existing infrastructure at little or no cost.
We are calling out on the governor of Imo state, Hope Uzodinma to lead this campaign together with other eminent political figures of Imo state extraction like Rochas Okorocha, Emeka Ihedioha, Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, and Ikenga Ugochinyere et al instead of the ongoing and unnecessary political rivalry that is of no benefit to the good people of the state. It is indeed sad that news of Unknown gunmen who operate almost freely in the state is gaining undue traction.
There is a 330KV line from Onitsha to Alaoji that traverses Owerri, which can be dropped to feed a sub-station at Owerri in order to improve power supply to Owerri and adjacent towns. This is easily achievable now as the technical constraint that would have made such project difficult has been taken care of.
Previously, this line serves as the only means of power evacuation for power plants in the South-South region and the sole link between the South-South and the other parts of the national grid but with the construction of the alternative 330KV double circuit lines from Alaoji to Ikot-Ekpene, it is easier to interrupt power supply on this line for the purpose of connecting a substation at Owerri. Also, there will be no issue of right of way as the same existing route will be used.
Finally, even though there is an ongoing project connecting Onitsha to Alaoji that looks to have been stalled for no clear reason, a turn-in-turn-out of the existing 330KV line will give room for operational flexibility thus contributing to the quality of life of the people by boosting socio-economic activities in the state.