Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura is undertaking a total turnaround maintenance of the street lights in Lafia, the state capital, to make them functional.
The acting General Manager of Nasarawa State Urban Development Board (NUDB), Engineer Edward Daudu, who revealed this to newsmen, said the move became necessary following the level of dilapidation of the street lights from reasons ranging from expired lightening devices to energy storage facilities.
According? to Engr. Daudu, “some of the luminaries and lightening components have expired; energy storage facilities like the batteries have also expired while a large portion has suffered vandalisation which necessitated the reworking of the whole system.”
The rehabilitation, which would cost the state government about N268 million, is being carried out by J. Patel Nig. Ltd – the same company that installed them during the past administration of Aliyu Akwe Doma at the sum of N545 million.
Daudu explained that there are specifications to the lightening system and that the bulbs have lifelines which need frequent maintenance. He said the white bulbs formerly in place were not good for the roads and traffic as obtained in the state capital.
Instead, the yellow bulbs will replace the white ones which have only 10,000 hours, serving only two thirds of a year.
He further stated that the solar panels are in good shape and would be replaced after treating the poles with anti-rust paints.