Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu PhD CFR, LLD, is consistently living up to his billing as the most Competent, most Active and most visibly impactful Legislator, in the whole of the SouthEast.
The commissioning of the 1000kvA Solar Power Scheme in Bende on the 9th of January, 2026, represents yet another laudable milestone in the history of the ancient town, and also another mission-critical achievement by the Deputy Speaker.
The 1000kvA (1MW) solar electricity project is a pivotal, utility-scale, mini-grid installation for Bende town and the adjoining rural communities.
At this capacity, the project moves beyond just lighting up homes and has become a powerful engine for rural industry, and also social transformation.
Meanwhile, just as the good people of Bende were still basking in the euphoria of their newly commissioned state-of-the-art electric power system, power line engineers and technicians had completed the laying of nearly 70km length of core aluminium, high-tension electric cables, from Uzuakoli, through Ozuitem, and finally terminating in Bende town.
The significance of this momentous project isn’t only in its sheer scale, but also in its interventive timeliness.
The benefitting communities of Bende and Ozuitem, a rural sister community that shares common boundaries with Bende and Uzuakoli, had remained in darkness for years due to the decoupling of the power cables, that once connected the agricultural communities to the National Power Grid.
Then Benjamin happened.
The 19th day of 2025 will be etched deeply in both the written and oral histories of Uzuakoli, Ozuitem and Bende, all sister communities in Bende Federal Consistency.
Ozuitem community got lit up again for the first time in many dark years.
Feeder transformers became live and energized once more, after years of silence.
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu PhD CFR LLD, sends a clear and reassuring message to his constituents…….
He is here to deliver!
The economic and social significance of this transformative projects cannot be overemphasized.
Rural economies within Bende Federal Consistency, especially Bende, Ozuitem and Uzuakoli, all rely heavily on agriculture as their backbone.
A 1MW (1000kvA) solar power module would provide a productive-use power to help rural farmers move beyond subsistence farming, especially rice farmers who would need water pumps that allows for year-round and dry-season farming, doubling or tripling annual crop yields.
Again, it can power riceg mills, industrial grinders, palm oil/palm kernel oil pressers, enabling farmers to process raw goods locally.
Still, it will help farmers to scale one of the biggest hurdles in rural food storage and preservation.
The project can power community cold rooms to preserve fish, meat, and vegetables, drastically reducing post-harvest losses.
Reliable electricity transforms the quality of basic human services that are often neglected in rural settings.
Health Centers and Clinics can now safely store vaccines and medicines in refrigerators, perform emergency surgeries at night and power diagnostic equipment.
Many rural businesses and wealthy households which hitherto had relied on expensive, noisy and polluting diesel generators, will henceforth enjoy fixed-cost alternative efficient power.
Security along Uzuakoli, Ozuitem, Bende axis will measurably improve, along with micro and ancillary businesses.
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu PhD CFR LLD, is indeed firing on all fronts.
Our communities are well lit.
Our roads are smooth and well paved
Omenkahuruanya 1,
Thank you Sir.
Chikodi Eze
