Ebonyi Threatens Legal Action Against Purveyors Of Fake News

Ebonyi State Government has cautioned those who are misinforming the general public on the Afikpo Light Project to desist from such and ensure that peace continues to reign in the area for further development or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

The state commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr Jude Okpor gave the warning while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held at the New Government House Abakaliki.

Okpor said that the State Executive Council took time to analyse the social media ripples that emanated from the Afikpo Light Project as well as issues surrounding it, and after an intense and exhaustive deliberation resolved to inform the general public that the job leading to the restoration of light in Afikpo, contrary to erroneous information, has been satisfactorily completed.

He maintained that the job is only awaiting connection to the National Grid after the completion of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Power Sub-Station, Amasiri, from which the state government has extracted commitment that the job would be completed before the end of the year.

“As part of its negotiation with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the State Government has approved payment for the diversion of the high-tension poles affected by the dualisation of Enugu-Abakaliki-Ogoja Trans-Sahara Express Way,” he said.

It would be recalled that the member representing Afikpo North East State Constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon Ukie Ezeali had petitioned the State House of Assembly Committee on Public Account insisting that the light project was substandard and called for the probe of the state commissioner for power and the team of engineers that carried out the job.

Briefing journalists, Hon Ezeali expressed regret that the Ministry of Power mismanaged the fund released for the project, adding that a report from the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, obtained by him stated that the job executed by the Ministry was substandard and that the transformers installed would not be energised.

But the commissioner for Power, Chief Peter Oge Ali described the allegations as false saying that the state government procured eight brand new transformers, refurbished another five and installed all at different locations and urged the people to disregard the claims of the lawmaker.