Reps call for urgent completion of power project in Delta
By Jonathan Lois, FCT, Abuja
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), to urgently provide required funds to ensure the completion of Okpai–Kwale Transmission Line Project, in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal constituency of Delta State.
The House mandated the Committee on Power to ensure that bottlenecks mitigating against the completion of the project are effectively addressed “and the project completed in due time.”
These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Need to Address the Absence of Power Supply in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State” sponsored by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi.
The House noted that Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency was host to the 960 megawatts Okpai Independent Power Plant, which, according to them, plays a significant role in supplying electricity to Anambra, Enugu and Abuja, thus making it a crucial asset for the nation’s power distribution system.
“It was concerned that despite its significant role in power supply, as well as hosting several Oil Companies including the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company (SEEPCO), Midwestern Oil and Gas limited, Energia limited, Pillar Oil limited, Chorus
Energy limited, communities in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal constituency lack electricity supply, which is impeding socio-economic progress in the area.”
The House said it was aware that in 2021, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) awarded the contract sum of about 4.2 billion naira for construction of a 132KV Double Circuit transmission line to address the electricity needs of the Ndokwa/Ukwuani communities.
The House, therefore, expressed worries that the project has experienced significant delays and has been stalled for over a year due to price variations, and despite formal requests by the contractor for additional funding to complete the project, it still remains uncompleted as all efforts have proven futile.
Furthermore, the House said it was cognizant of the need to prioritize the electrification project in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal constituency and ameliorate the untold hardship the people have faced despite their contribution to
the power sector.
