By Kenneth Orusi
The federal government is finalizing plans to make funds available to finance the completion of the Okpai power plant project.
This, according to Senator Ned Nwoko, is in order to enhance electricity supply to Kwale and the entire Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State.
Senator Nwoko made this revelation at the palace of the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Prof. Epiphany Azinge, during a courtesy visit to the palace recently.
The Okpai Power Plant, located in Ndokwa east local government area, recently increased its capacity to 980 megawatts but has not provided electricity to host communities. This has been the burden of the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, Senator Nwoko.
“Haven met with the minister of of Budget and National Planning, they are thinking of exceptionally making money available for that stepdown to be done. So, we are making some progress from the federal government.
“There are power issues in Delta North as we have in Nigeria, but as far back as 2005, His Excellency, President Olusegun Obasanjo, commissioned the Okpai power plant to serve Delta North”.
Senator Nwoko, who is chairman of Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation, believes that the laudable initiative, with effective management would alleviate the suffering of epileptic power supply to Delta residents.
Senator Nwoko had revealed that investors are interested in partnering with the state government through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), to improve power supply to the region.
The proposal also involves implementing the Electricity Act 2023, which would attract further investment and support independent power projects.
“There are financiers that have come to meet with me in Abuja, they are prepared to provide the funding for these projects.
“And they are only asking for one thing; they are asking for guarantee from the state government that they are able to collect their money over 20-24 years.
“They just need those guarantee and it will be done,” he told the Asagba and other traditional rulers that were at the palace.
In another development, the Senator told the Asagba, Prof. Azinge, about the water project (Dam) in Ogwashi-Uku which he started as former member of the House of Representatives.
As one who understands the importance of water to his people, he said: “I felt that if we have a dam for household use, we can also extend it to irrigation for our farms.
“So that our farmers can farm all year round without having to wait for the rain. The federal government has done and built that dam, they have done their own part, there is nothing more for the federal government to do.
“Now, they have handed over to Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority to manage. What is now left is for the state to build the water plants that will send the water out.
“That dam actually has three purposes; household use, irrigation and power generation where possible.
“I know that there is virtually water problem in all parts of Delta but this will serve up to Asaba, Ubulu-Uku, down to Issele-Uku, down to Umunede and about 66 communities. So, it is a very important water project”, he said.
Kenneth Orusi, is the Editor-in-chief of The Story and Chairman, ICC, Delta NUJ.
