The Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources today held an interactive consultation session at the Secretariat of Lekki LCDA on Lagos State Electricity Cooperatives with the African Development Bank.
While giving his opening address, the Council Mayor of Lekki LCDA, Hon. Rasak Bamidele Kasali enjoined all stakeholders to see the session as an eye-opener and also a way out of the present quagmire of instability in electricity which he has been championing for a while.
Speaking at the event, the Director of Cooperative Services, Lagos State, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Ibrahim Zuluka gave an insight on joining the cooperative and the services it stands for, which includes educating, training, approval and registration of societies.
The Council Chairman of Ibeju Lekki Local Government, Engr Abdullahi Sesan Olowa appreciated the Lagos State Governor for always considering Ibeju Lekki in the course of embarking on his People's oriented projects just like the Secondary School he inspected some days ago at Elemoro. The Council Mayor enlightened the people that the Electricity Cooperative Model is the first of its kind as he put it that, electricity can't be free and as such, there is the need of paying for services rendered as the EKEDC will readily run the facilities. He charged residents and indigents to adopt the model, though the African Development Bank is ready to fund it, however, it is a loan that needs to be refunded, and so, the cooperatives must be adequately functional to full capacity. He assured the Commissioner of Energy and Mineral Resources of the readiness of the entire Ibeju Lekki and Lekki LCDA to ensure its success.
The Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources Engr Olalere Odusote assured the residents of the preparedness of the Lagos State Government to give the entire Local Government a facelift, he however charged them to be resourceful in the use of their land. He assured the gathering that power outage will soon be a thing of the past as the model of the electricity cooperative will not be a futile effort.
Lending his voice also, Engr Abiola Olowu talked about the Government's intervention on power as the substation is at Ajah which is about a stretch of 60km down to Lekki. He advised that security personnel can be employed to man the cable installation to ward off vandals as he pleaded with EKEDC Officials to supply prepaid meters and equally advised that Lekki LCDA should have a maintenance office like the one at Magbon Alade in Ibeju Lekki.
The Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ms. Sholabomi Mosunmola Shasore in her vote of thanks assured that every discussion at the gathering will not just be looked into, but actions will be expedited.
Present at the occasion are Hon. Raheem Kazeem Adewale, Member representing Ibeju Lekki Constituency 2, Hon. Oladele Ajayi, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Commerce and Industry, Hon. Musiliu Olowu, member Governing Board, Lagos State Sports Commission, Hon. Allahubaki, The entire Legislative Arm of Lekki LCDA, Royal Fathers, Chieftains, representatives of Communities.
Akadiri Ayorinde
Chief Press Secretary to the Council Chairman Ibeju Lekki Local Government