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…reconnects Uzoakoli, Ozuitem, Bende Headquarters to National Grip

…Deputy Speaker Gifts New Two-Bedroom Home to Widow in Bende

By Gloria Ikibah

A major boost to electricity supply in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State was achieved with the commissioning of a 1000KVA solar-powered electricity project, marking a significant stride towards sustainable energy for the area.

The project which was initiated by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu is expected to provide stable and reliable power to Bende headquarters and surrounding communities, easing long-standing challenges associated with erratic electricity supply.

The solar installation is designed for long-term service, with batteries expected to last up to 25 years. Power is generated from a central solar farm and distributed through a network of transformers positioned across the community to ensure wide coverage.

Kalu who represents the constituency at the House of Representatives, said the success of the project, is closely tied to community cooperation, particularly in granting access to land and transformer locations. He stressed that local support is essential to sustain the facility and ensure that residents fully benefit from the investment.

It also emerged that the solar farm was constructed on Kalu’s personal land after efforts to secure a suitable community site proved unsuccessful.

While acknowledging the difficulties involved in connecting Bende to the national grid, including the high cost of repairing and replacing damaged transformers, the Deputy Speaker disclosed that work is already underway to restore grid connectivity to communities such as Uzuakoli, Ozuitem and Bende headquarters from the Alaoji power station.

The project is expected to complement ongoing efforts to improve electricity infrastructure in the constituency and reduce dependence on unstable grid supply.

He said: “This one is 1000KVA, and there is another 1000KVA coming, and they are going to be spread across the Bende community. We have registered the whole thirteen wards in Bende Federal Constituency to receive a project like this, but we are still waiting for them to give us land. The federal government needs a location to site them. This one will serve us and will not break down for a very long time.

“What the people building it said is that in about twenty-five years, the battery will still be there serving this community. I have seen it and it works. There are two locations: one is the generation point, where the electricity is generated, and the next one is the distribution point, where the transformers will work. And we are going to use as many transformers as possible.

“If we want to connect to the transformers in the community, you will not agree. If you refuse to give land and deny access to transformers, how will you get the light? So, you people should try and cooperate.

“The one I am doing on the national grid, I have spent about two hundred million naira to connect Bende back to Alaoji. That is the truth. The two hundred million naira was used in the process of connecting light back to Bende. This took a lot of other transformers to make it possible. But in doing that, we need to service all the transformers here to make it work, and you disagreed. How will you get light if your transformers are bad?

“The ones we carried, we have repaired them and brought them back, and the next step will be installation. To develop a community, all hands must join. So you people should come together, because I cannot be doing everything. You have a role to play, and I have mine. Sustaining this community is in your hands.”

Appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and commitment to community development, Kalu said that the light will enable small scale businesses to thrive and generally enhance productivity.

He also called for the setting up of a vigilante group within the community to protect the critical power infrastructure.

“We must also build a strong vigilante group to protect this project”, he said.

In a related gesture, the Deputy Speaker extended his community outreach with the donation of a newly constructed two-bedroom bungalow to a widow, Mrs Mgbadu Kalu Madukwem, and her son, Onyebuchi Kalu Madukwem, of the Ndi Kalu compound in Agbamunzu Village, Umuoche Autonomous Community, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.

The house was formally handed over to the family on Friday, bringing relief to the beneficiaries. The initiative was conceived several months earlier during an evening walk through the community, when the Deputy Speaker became aware of the family’s housing situation.

The donation formed part of his broader commitment to improving the welfare of residents across the constituency. He reaffirmed his resolve to continue supporting the people of Bende as a mark of appreciation for the confidence they placed in him through their electoral support.

“Sometimes ago, I was strolling around the village with my children, I saw a mud house here that was in a very bad shape with a leaking roof, about to collapse on the occupants and I made a promise that I will build something better. The man of the house was still alive at the time.  I am happy that we have been able to achieve that today.

“We have also discovered some mud houses around Bende. We are going to make sure we rebuild those mud houses, starting from this January. We will go from community to community. I can’t bear sleeping in a good apartment whereas those who sent me to Abuja are sleeping in mud houses with leaking roofs. It’s not good. I am happy that we are giving a brand new house to a family that did not expect it. They didn’t even ask me for it. They didn’t come to me and say build a house for us. I was the one who went to them and promised to build a house for them and today we have completed it to the Glory of God”, he said.

In their separate remarks, Mrs. Mgbadu Kalu Madukwem and her son who were overwhelmed by emotions expressed profound gratitude to the Deputy Speaker for his kind gestures, praying God to bless him abundantly.