Otti performs groundbreaking ceremony for 15MVA Substation in Abia
Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The Abia State Governor Alex Otti, on Wednesday performed the
groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 1X7.5MVA, 33/11KVA Injection Substation, 1KM of 33KV Line, 1.2KM of 11KV Line, 2KM of 0.415KV Low-Tension Line and the Installation of Two (2Nos) 300KVA, 11/0.415KV distribution substations in Umuahia the state capital.
Speaking during the ceremony the governor commended the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) for its bold leadership and unyielding commitment to value creation across the broad spectrum of the national electricity ecosystem covering generation, transmission and distribution.
The governor thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,for effective redirection of the national outlook on electricity to accommodate a broader spectrum of stakeholders including States, private sector players and a network of international partners.
He pointed out that it is reassuring to observe that notwithstanding the multiple setbacks that had been experienced in the push for reliable power supply in the country, succeeding administrations have continued to push and explore new ways of tackling what has evolved into a perennial national embarrassment.
According to him, “With the gradual but steady progress that have been made in the last few years, especially with the liberalisation of the electricity market through the National Electricity Act of 2023, I am doubly optimistic that we shall overcome the challenge of sub-optimal electricity output in the not-too-distant future, if we stay course”.
Otti maintained that the groundbreaking ceremony of multiple electricity infrastructure projects in Umuahia, further strengthens his conviction that it is only a matter of time before the state put the setbacks arising from failure in the electricity value chain behind.
The Abia chief executive also lauded the NDPHC Management led by Engr. Jennifer Adighije, for looking favourably towards the state for these strategic infrastructure investments designed to improve power distribution within and around the capital city.
He said, “This gesture has further strengthened our conviction in the power of partnership as a reliable development vehicle.
“Let me promptly assure the decision-makers at the NDPHC that the Abia State Government shall leverage every resource at its disposal to see to the timely actualisation and activation of these projects in ways that serve the economic and social needs of the communities.
“It is appropriate to announce that these landmark infrastructure projects further deepen NDPHC’s presence in the State following the completion and commissioning of Phase 1 of the Alaoji Power Plant and the ongoing work on Phase 2 of the project.
“We cannot thank you enough for your expanding investments in Abia and then, your optimism in the potential of our State as an emerging economic powerhouse. I can assure that these investments would ultimately yield great dividends, not just strictly on returns on investments but in the wider impact on the economy through higher industrial outputs, job creation and resuscitation of dormant economic assets.
“The commitments you are making in this place would also draw the attention of investors and multiple economic actors. My verdict is that the NDPHC, through its investments, is accelerating national development by solving a problem that had hitherto limited the productivity of the people and restricted the capacity to create wealth through productive endeavours.
The governor who described electricity as the wheel that drives industrial and commercial activities, added that Intensive research efforts have established that regular electricity supply and consumption are positively correlated to most critical development indicators like GDP growth, industrial productivity, trade and investments inflows.
In his words, “For us, electricity is the foundation of development, the enabler of growth and the most enduring pathway to social prosperity. Our commitment to expanding access to electricity is firmed on the understanding that without it, every development aspiration is entirely an exercise in self-deceit.
“As a government, we have taken bold and pragmatic steps to fix the electricity conundrum in our State through informed legislation, policy initiatives, recruitment, investment and partnerships. We have prioritised the optimisation of energy supply and consumption for the simple reason that our broad development outline would fall apart if we cannot generate and push enough power to the frontlines of economic activities around the State.
“The road to energy sufficiency is still far but our progress in the last 30 months gives plenty of reasons for optimism. In the Aba ring-fenced electricity corridor, supply has continued to move northwards, the distribution of prepaid meters to consumers is also picking up and gradually, the private-sector led energy systems architecture in Aba and environs is racing towards operational stability.
“Furthermore, our success in the acquisition of state-wide energy distribution infrastructure outside the Aba ring-fence corridor from a private investor speaks to our determination to holistically address the perennial challenge of poor infrastructure, not only in Aba and adjoining communities, but across every other neighbourhood in the State. It is our contention that access to electricity should be a right and not privilege reserved only for the rich in the urban centres”.
Also speaking the MD, CEO, NDPHC Engr. Jennifer Adebide, represented by the Executive Director of Network in Engr. Bello Babayo-Bello said company believes that the project will add value to the economic activities, livelihood, even enhance commercial and industrial clusters in the state.
He said, “This project is very important especially now that the state is in the process of acquiring a significant percentage of the distribution company. We see Governor Alex Otti as a partner in progress.
He is a transformational leader and we want to partner with him in making sure that we participate fully in driving in a transparent, accountable and sustainable manner as contained in our mandate and mandate President Tinubu”.
The Commissioner for Power and Public Utility in the state Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, said the project is very critical to that transformative agenda of the governor to ensure that access to electricity for the entire state.
‘Gov. Otti believes that it is a responsibility of the government to make sure that everybody in the state gets access to electricity.
So this is one of such projects that we contribute to this and it will help, like we just mentioned to improve industrialization, commercial activities and also the well-being of our people.
So we are very, very grateful to
NDPHC and the federal government for selecting our state for this laudable project and we are open to more collaboration. This is not the first footprint of NDPHC in Abia State. We know that they have their energy power plants, which they are already upgrading to a combined cycle. For His Excellency the governor, we also thank him for actually extending this project to a 15 MVA, which we will make to happen immediately” he said.