In a bold move to end decades of darkness in rural communities, the Chairman of Etche Local Government Area, Chief Chima Njoku, has procured over 14,000 electric poles for comprehensive rural electrification and reconnection of the council to the national grid.
The council’s Chief Press Secretary, Dagogo Isaac, in a statement issued on Wednesday, 19th November 2025, stated that the Etche council boss made the disclosure while taking delivery of a brand-new 500KVA/33KVA transformer at the council headquarters in Okehi.
The transformer is part of an aggressive electrification drive targeting communities that have never been connected to electricity.
“Every community in Etche must taste light,” Chief Njoku declared, thanking residents for their massive support for him and the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the last local government elections.
He revealed that over 90 per cent of work along the Omuma/Etche axis has been completed, including clearing of right-of-way to prevent vandalism and bush burning that often disrupt power supply.
The chairman stressed that steady power supply will trigger socio-economic transformation, create jobs and reduce poverty at the grassroots.
He said the utilization of local manpower was a deliberate policy to empower the Indigenes as projects are being executed through direct labour, putting money directly into the pockets of Etche sons and daughters.
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Chief Njoku described the electrification programme as the biggest rural infrastructure intervention ever undertaken by any administration in Etche as several communities are already enjoying electricity.
Residents of Okehi and neighbouring communities trooped out in their numbers to witness the transformer delivery, singing and dancing in appreciation of the council chairman’s people-oriented projects.
With the acquisition of over 14,000 poles and ongoing installation works, Etche Local Government is poised to become one of the best-lit rural councils in Rivers State before the end of the year.
