The lawmaker representing Delta North senatorial district, Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, on Monday, visited the Ministry of Power to address delays in the distribution of 100 megawatts of electricity from the Okpai Independent Power Plant awarded 19 years ago to Delta North senatorial district.
The OIPP, managed by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), is a critical contributor to Nigeria’s power supply grid, with a capacity to generate 930 megawatts of electricity.
The senator who met with the Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, and the Managing Director/CEO of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, respectively, reportedly inquired about the unexplained delays in executing the crucial projects that will boost economic activities in the gas and oil rich Ndokwa nation .
This step to address the injustice were contained in a press release by Nwoko media team, stated that the visit, which was a follow-up to his motion in the Senate, was to alert the ministry and its agency about the Senate’s resolutions on the vexed issue.
The Minister commended Senator Nwoko for, “A proactive approach and assured of the ministry’s commitment to executing the project.
He said,” This assurances stems from the Senator’s appreciable approach towards the realization of the important project and it’s benefits to the people in particular and the country in general”
Senator Nwoko, had demanded, “An explanation for the delay in electricity distribution and the stalled 132KV Double Circuit Transmission Line project, which was supposed to enhance electricity supply, that has been absent in the area for over a decade”
In his response, Abdulaziz, said, “Lack of funds is the primary obstacle to project execution,” emphasizing the importance of financial support through the legal frome works of the National Assembly to actualize resolutions”.
“It is not enough for the senate to pass resolutions without making funds available for the ministry and its agencies to execute projects”, he stated
He further stressed: “As soon as funding is made available, the agency will immediately commence the execution of electricity distribution from the Okpai independent power plant”, and insisting that funding was, “Never made available for the 132KV Double Circuit Transmission Line”.
In April 2005, the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, commissioned the OIPP with the directive to implement the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the plant and provide 50 megawatts of electricity to benefit the host communities within a 50-kilometer radius from the plant. However, despite the upgrade of the plant and the commitment to increase power supply to host communities to 100 megawatts, there have been unexplained delays in fulfilling this promise.
Additionally, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) awarded a contract for the construction of a 132KV Double Circuit Transmission Line to enhance electricity supply. However, delays in project execution have persisted.
