Re: Okpai Power Plant: Senator Nwoko Should Partner With Federal Government & Other Stakeholders

Written speculatively and in complete ignorance of the issues, the writeup drew our attention due to the poor attempt at polarizing relationships without proper research, and raising all manner of wild speculations.

In the referenced article were various claims which included stating that “Okpai Plant is a National asset rather than a State owned Initiative”; sweeping statements like, “Senator Nwoko’s derogatory statement”; references to political leaders, assumptions of political alliances, and comparisons between Senatorial zones.

It digressed from speaking to the issue at hand, which we believe is largely due to a lack of grasp, to the issues, which leave much to be desired.

During a recent community Consultative Forum, the Senator representing Delta North at Ezionum, had seized the opportunity of a strong forum of Ndokwa Ukuani leaders, to explain the challenges bedeviling development and his efforts as well as his achievements so far in one year. Also, he threw light on ongoing conversations for partnerships with other arms of Government to his constituents. This was conversational, with no Ill intent. Excerpts have thereafter been politicised. Prince Ned took his time to speak on a range of issues concerning them. If the question were political, the Distinguished Senator is a PDP serving Senator just Like the Executive Governor of Delta State is also a PDP Governor. It is disheartening that from a short clip making the rounds,  wrong narratives have emerged including words like Berating the Governor being used, and this has led from speaking to the issues to digressing and detracting from the very core of the conversation.

Reading through the article, it showed a complete misrepresentation of how governance works and the role of the federating units as well as the legislature. let us give a brief history here in very plain English. Okpai in Ndokwa East LGA is one of the major Independent power plants in Nigeria. It began operation in 2005 with initial capacity of 480MW. Operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and NNPC. In March 2022, there was an expansion ( Okpai Phase 2) and upon Commissioning, an additional 500MW was added to the Generation capacity. All this power is fed to the National Grid through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The EPSRA 2005, (Electric Power Sector reform act) and its subsequent  amendments entitled host communities like the Ndokwa people to, enjoy and feel the impact of the energy project in their land. They have practically been living by the River Niger and washing their hands with spittle as the saying goes. They live in darkness while Okpai’s power supply to the grid is distributed majorly to supply power to FCT & neighbouring States.

When Niger Delta activists fought for rights to oil proceeds from the federation and got it, this included Governors chesting out for Resource Control. Today, everyone is smiling to Abuja to collect huge allocations as benefits from that struggle. Collective interests need collective actions.

The good people of Ndokwa, who have suffered over the years, generating light for the nations capital and nearby states, while living in darkness and backwardness, finally get to have a determined voice, in the person of the Distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko. He not only believes in rhetorics, but backs it with action, intervening on their behalf after years of none action.

In seeking to impress the Governor, it is important to get busy making productive inputs, not offering uninformed opinions online and unsolicited advice to the State Government not to get involved in an important sector like power generation issues.

The Governor is being called upon to facilitate access to captured power, a step down for his people to access light from what they are generating. The totality of all the energy is sent to the grid without captured power going to the host community. Recent Electricity Reforms in the power Sector, produced “The Electricity Act 2023” which repealed the EPSRA 2005. This completely changed the way Power can be generated, Transmitted and Distributed in Nigeria, giving significant Participation to States and Communities. The law empowers States and Private Sector involvement.  This simply put, means that States; Local Communities and Private entities can now participate in generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.

With this law in place, all Delta State needs to do is leverage on this and domesticate the law.  This alone will attract investors, whom the Distinguished Senator has discussed partnerships with already. This was conveniently not quoted by the social media warrior. The Distinguished Senator by a letter dated 3rd May, 2024  made necessary enquiries on the status of all the issues from the TCN at the Delta work centre and has been well briefed. In turn he has secured, ready partnership options with 2 major investors, willing to partner the Government, and can recoup investment through PPP arrangement. This is conveniently lost to the Pen fast writers. Seeking the State Governments partnership is also a major and right thing to do, along with other partnerships.

Now to the contentious issue a 132KVA Double Circuit transmission line was Commissioned to provide for the power needs of the immediate Communities of Ndokwa / Ukuani since 2021 and this is what rhetorics, politics and bureaucratic bottle necks, is stalling implementation of.  There are major roles the State Government can play, to facilitate ending the agony of the communities and Distinguished Senator Ned laid various options on the table to this effect. There are several benefits that will come from domesticating this instrument which includes but not limited to:

(1) Facilitating Mini Grids; Step down Projects; even IPPs, ie independent power projects that can serve underserved Communities all over the State, not Delta North alone.

(2) Delta State can then have its own State level Regulatory agency, which will be empowered by domestication. This will regulate mini grids and everything about distribution and the Sector.

(3) Encouraging Investments. Spread across the world from Saudi Arabia to Canada and to China and even South Africa,  investors are more than willing for several years running to massively invest in our power Sector. Delta should have taken the lead in a 24/7 light supply record breaking feat for its people. Other States are basking in that glory.  It is not too late to achieve that. That’s the desire of the Distinguished Senator not to Berate, as is erroneously being bandied but to ask for cooperation and that the issue, be given the needed priority it should enjoy.

Distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko has brought to the table a legislative style and capacity, which is not what we are usually accustomed to. Recently, he wrote an Open Letter to the President on setting up Social Security Safety net systems, a fundamental right, as is done in more developed economies. No one heated up the polity. In a few days time an advocacy event is planned around this for key stakeholders working in these thematic areas in civil society to make presentations on the matter. All this is done with active consultation.

Senator Prince Ned Nwoko has also advocated for Asaba/ Oko / Okpai/  Aboh Coastal Road; and the Ogwashi uku dam treatment plant and reticulation. The road is now in the NDDC budget with almost N30bn budgeted for it. The Senator’s quest is to ensure better conditions for the people he represents. It is his belief that with good road networks; Water and Electricity life will be manageable for the people and Development will follow.

 The Distinguished Senator deploys several pronged styles of advocacy to achieve change for the collective good. Central to this is dialogue and consultations. We therefore, advise all stakeholders to be more concerned about the issues of needed development and strive to ensure that all Arms of Government work together to achieve  these goals.

Finally, Senator Ned is asking for concerted effort by the State Government to take control of the electricity space in the State to foster local access to electricity; facilitate delivery on MOUs signed with host communities by oil companies to deliver Corporate Social Responsibility Benefits, accruing to communities where generation is being done. To Facilitate local power projects and attract willing investors, through, investment friendly initiatives. He is playing his role, on behalf of the good people of Delta North who elected him to represent them.

Many states have taken it upon themselves to work on Federal roads with understanding and get their refunds thereafter from the Federal Government. The electricity sector, with its great impact on local communities and the life of the economy of the State, is even more qualified for such intervention. Calling on the State Government therefore, to intervene is germaine and needful. This will in its own way spiral a series of activities that will place the Governor at the centre, by taking charge and leading the initiatives for a record remedial of this very sad exploitative situation. The effect on the economy of Delta State will obviously be a game changer.  We therefore, seize the opportunity to appeal to those spreading disaffection to instead do better research and bring informed voices to the table for synergy of efforts in the State.

– Gloria Okolugbo, Communication Team  Lead for Distinguished Senator, Prince Ned Nwoko.