Sen. Ned Nwoko Urges Delta Government to Take Charge of Electricity Sector for Improved Power Supply

Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP-Delta) has called on the Delta State Government to take proactive steps in managing the electricity sector to enhance power supply across the state. Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District, made this appeal during a discussion with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

He emphasized that such an initiative would not only improve local power supply but also support the implementation of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) between oil companies and host communities, ensuring that Corporate Social Responsibility commitments are met. According to Nwoko, this move would also foster local power projects and attract investment through investor-friendly policies.

Nwoko pointed out that while many states have successfully taken on the maintenance of federal roads by negotiating refunds from the federal government, the electricity sector, with its profound impact on local economies and communities, deserves similar intervention.

He responded to recent online media reports that misrepresented discussions about a power plant in Ndokwa/Ukuani, stressing that these publications were speculative and lacked understanding of the actual issues. At a recent community forum in Ezionum, Nwoko had explained the development challenges in his area and ongoing discussions for government partnerships, but these conversations were misinterpreted by some media outlets.

Nwoko clarified that Okpai Power Plant in Ndokwa East Local Government Area, one of Nigeria’s major independent power plants, started operations in 2005 with a capacity of 480MW and was expanded in 2022 to include an additional 500MW. Despite this significant power generation, Nwoko lamented that the local communities continue to suffer from inadequate power supply while the generated electricity is primarily distributed to the Federal Capital Territory and neighboring states.

He highlighted that while the Niger Delta activists’ struggle for oil revenue led to substantial benefits for the region, the people of Ndokwa have yet to see a fair share of the energy resources generated from their land. In light of this, Nwoko has urged the Delta State Governor to facilitate measures that would allow the host communities to benefit from the power generated in their area.

Nwoko also mentioned that he has arranged potential partnerships with two major investors willing to collaborate with the Delta Government through a Public-Private Partnership model to address these issues.

Written by: Blossom kugbere.

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