Community News: Oyo community gets light after 30 years of darkness

Residents of Orita community, a densely populated area in Eruwa, Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State had electricity restored to the area after thirty years of darkness due to faulty electric transformer.

The residents, who had made several efforts to ensure that they were re- connected to the national grid after their source of electricity, (transformer) developed fault in 1989, lamented that the absence of power in the area had since then crippled their business activities.

They further explained that several efforts made by various groups and associations in the area hit a brick wall, until when they were recently rescued through the intervention of the World Bank.

It was however, excitement galore for the residents on Wednesday when the World Bank and the Oyo state government through its agency, the Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) handed over another 500kva transformer for the community.

According to the Chairman of the the Community Project Management Committee (CPMC), Hon. Olusiji Oyinlola, the project gulped over N8 million.

He added that the community contributed 10 percent of the total cost before the Oyo state government and the world bank supported the community financially.

Projects embarked upon by the committee in the area according to Oyinlola included; Drilling of a unit motorized borehole, renovation and equipment of school dinning -hall, installation of 500kva transformer and electricity extension, and construction of a block of six units VIP toilet.

He appreciated the support of the World Bank and the state government for ensuring that they are taking development to the rural areas in the country.

Oyinlola who shared the experience of the residents before the intervention of the CSDA in the community narrated, “On the issue of power, it was another problem before now. Many of the residents, especially the artisans usually move out of the community because of the poor power supply.

“Also, our physically challenged children are now enjoying VIP toilets in their school. We thank the state government and the world bank for their support.

“Water was a serious problem for our people before now. Our people travel for more than two kilometers before they could get drinking water, but now that we have our community water, we can fetch water at will.

“The projects also create employment opportunities for our people because we have somebody managing the water. The community also employed another person monitoring the transformer and the toilet. They have been managing it effectively”.

Chairman of the Landlord Association in the community, Mr. Adewole Emmanuel noted that the issue of power supply in the area was a serious problem before the intervention, stressing that solving water challenges which seems impossible before is now possible.

“We started planning of getting good water and transformer in our community since 1994. We talked to many politicians and associations without a positive solution. In fact, many people have sick while many have died because of poor water consumption but when we heard about CSDA, we applied and its management invited us to a meeting where we sealed the deal.

“Today, our people are now enjoying good water and a constant power supply. Many people are now coming back to our community. Thanks to the management of world bank and CSDA for their support.”

Secretary of the committee, Abiodun Olaosegbe also informed that life was miserable for the residents of the community before the intervention, “but today the story has change because our people need not to travel far before they could get drinkable water”.

A resident, Funmilayo Oladiran said before now, women endangered their lives by traveling far to scout for water, even in a thick forest where it is dangerous to walk at night because it is a must for them to get water to prepare food.

Oladiran said, “First of all, let me thank the Oyo state government and world bank for their support towards this community.

“Before now, we traveled for over 2 kilometers to get water but today, as you can see, I am fetching water in front of my house. At my comfort zone. Also, the light was not good for many years but today, the light is very full and constant.”

Acting Principal of the school for the deaf and blind Eruwa, where the toilet was built, Mrs Adebisi Deborah Folasade said before the intervention, there was no chairs for the pupils to study while the pupils only defecate in the bush.

“We thank the world bank and the Oyo state government for these great projects”.

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