According to the 2023 budget performance report of Benue State, N109 million was spent on the completion of electrification projects in Tse-Abi and TSe-Ginde-Pevi, two communities in the North-Central state that have never had a power supply.
UDEME could not ascertain the amount released earlier but the 2022 budget had N5 million budgeted.
The project, initiated by the former governor of the state, Samuel Ortom, was aimed at improving business and productivity in the communities.
When UDEME visited the benefiting communities in June 2024, it was discovered that the project was abandoned with Poles erected and fallen while transformers installed sat inside thick bushes. The failure of the project has posed a difficult livelihood for the residents of the communities who are predominantly farmers.
Residents Speak
40-year-old Samuel Iorshe has been the Head Attendant at the Ginde Primary Health Care Centre for the past five years. He explained how medical staff use phone lights to conduct delivery at night. He further explained that that situation has limited the functionality of the health facility.
Samuel Iorshe
Mr Iorshe explained that the situation has posed a heavy risk to patients while noting that the situation has limited the service of the health center, which has caused residents to seek other ways of satisfying their health needs.
Another health worker, Jennifer Tersoo 22, explained how distressing the situation has been for her in the past three months of her work at the health center, she explained that the situation has become an ugly one as she is most times responsible for holding the torch when work is going on at night.
“For now, the major work I do is holding the torch during night treatments. It is unfortunate that I am the new torch holder instead of assistant birth attendant,” Miss Tersoo said.
Helen Iorver, 29 a mother of two explained how she went through the unfortunate scenario to deliver her last child which has had an impact on her mental health.
“Unfortunately, my last delivery was at night and there was nowhere to go. The labor started at about 8 pm. I went to the hospital with my husband and the doctor conducted the whole process in the night with his phone light. Anytime I think of that night it has always created fear in my mind, I thank God that I am alive but I will not try that again”
Businesses Suffer
Moses Iorhemn 28, a father of three runs a welding and fabricating shop in the village square. While speaking of the improvement the project would have brought, he lamented how the cost of diesel which he buys at N1800 has limited the running of his business. He explained that most of the individuals in the community have chosen to patronize the nearby village fabricators because of the price differences.
Moses Iorhemn
“I had almost closed my shop sometime in January because of the cost of diesel,” Mr Iorhemn said.
Johnson Oyiman, 32, has been using solar power, which he purchased on credit, for his Point of Sale (POS) outlets in the Tse-Abi and Tse-Ginde. He explained that a grid power supply would have improved his business and also allowed him to diversify. He stressed that he would have avoided buying the mini solar for credit if the electricity project had been completed and functional.
Mr Oyiman narrated how he had to close his outlets before 3 pm because of low power in POS terminals, he explained that charging in different charging stations for money has not been an option because of the security concerns involved in leaving the device in the hands of a stranger.
Johnson Oyiman
Chief Justin Tsevende 78, the Kindred head explains that the construction of the project had stopped without his notice. He and others are in the dark as to why.
Chief Justin Tsevende
Claims and counter-claims
The Director of Engineering at the Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperative in Benue State, Engineer Wuam Tersoo, alleged that the project was completed with the transformers installed and powered by Jos Electricity Company (JED). A claim that was countered by JED.
Mr Tersoo added that the project was first initiated by the Rural Electrification Agency(REA).
“The Rural Electrification Agency were the ones who installed the transformers but there was a missing link, they only went there installed the transformers, and did a little distribution without bringing the high tension line,” he said.
He noted that the ministry awarded the project to a new contractor in 2022 when it discovered that the communities had transformers installed.
Was REA Involved?
Upon visitation by UDEME noticed that the project signage indicates that it was executed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in 2021.
The project according to the signage was executed by 123 Services Ltd, a company. We could not assess the company as their profile was not found on the portal of the Corporate Affairs Commission website, and NG Check.
Godwin Ohaba, the Regional Network Engineer at JED revealed that the company had never powered any transformer in the Tse-Abi and Ginde communities. He explained that the company has no such location on its database.
All efforts to get the details of the contractor were unsuccessful as Mr Tersoo stated that the commissioner was yet to endorse the reply of the FOI. He stated that the commissioner was currently on a “thank you tour” with the governor across the state, all calls and text messages proved abortive.
Also, an email sent to the REA to confirm their involvement in the project was not responded to as no details regarding the project were found on the website.
Community Hopeful
While the agencies involved continue to trade blame, the hopes of the community stay alive as their wait to experience the supply of grid-powered electricity extends further. Chief Justin hopes that the contractors and all government agencies involved in the project return to the site as soon as possible to present the community with a feel of the dividends of democracy.
Usha Timothy, 32, narrated that he hopes the project will be completed soon as his cold water selling business which was taught about when the project started has only remained an idea that begs for actualisation
A meeting scheduled by the ministry with the reporter didn’t take place. Upon arrival at a planned date, the Director of Engineering, Wuam Terkura was unavailable despite commitment.
A series of trials to speak and fix another date failed.
The story was supported with funding from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).
