To address the lack of electricity in communities around the thermal power station in Okpai, Delta state, the House of Representatives has mandated the Federal Ministry of Finance to provide for N13.6 billion in the 2016 budget to step down power from the 480 megawatts Independent Powers Plant (IPP) operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) in Ndokwa/Ukwuani.
The Nigeria Agip Oil Company ( NAOC) and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC) are equally directed to commence the shore embankment of Okpai to avoid further devastation of the community by erosion.
These followed the adoption of the resolutions of a motion to avert a clash between the youths of the host communities of the power plant and the oil firms over the refusal of the latter to comply with a presidential directive that the communities should be electrified from the power plant on their land.
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo had directed the NAOC to provide electricity for the host communities of the 480 megawatts Independent Powers Plant (IPP) when it was commissioned in April 2005.
The Environmental Impact Assessment study (EIA) conducted prior to the establishment of the facility noted that 50 megawatts of electricity would be stepped down for the benefit of Communities within 50 kilometer radius from the plant.
In spite of these provisions , these communities have continued to wallow in darkness while the electricity generated from their neighbourhood is transmitted to the national grid and distributed across nine (9) states of the federation.
Worried by the failure of Nigerian Agip oil Company (NAOC) to heed to the Presidential declaration and respect the terms of the EIA report, Ndokwa leaders have sought all peaceful means to realize the step down of the electricity to the people to no avail including the visit to the Minister and the Permanent Secretary to the Federal Ministry of Power in September 2014 wherein approval for its step down was made and was marked to be included in the 2015 budget.
In spite of these provisions , these communities have continued to wallow in darkness while the electricity generated from their neighbourhood is transmitted to the national grid and distributed across nine (9) states of the federation.
Worried by the failure of Nigerian Agip oil Company (NAOC) to heed to the Presidential declaration and respect the terms of the EIA report, Ndokwa leaders have sought all peaceful means to realize the step down of the electricity to the people to no avail including the visit to the Minister and the Permanent Secretary to the Federal Ministry of Power in September 2014 wherein approval for its step down was made and was marked to be included in the 2015 budget.
The situation which has been generating a lot of tension in the area led to a mass protest a few days ago with various youth bodies, including the Save Ndokwa Nation Group (SNNG), Ndokwa Youths Congress (NYC), Pages Group International (PGI), Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU) Youth Wing, and Federated Union of Ndokwa Students (FUNS) giving a 21 days ultimatum to NAOC to start the process of the immediate step down of the 50 megawatts of electricity or shut down the facility.
In the lead debate, sponsor of the motion and representative of Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai ( PDD/Delta) said there was an urgent need for the federal government to intervene in the crisis before the expiration of the ultimatum.
According to the lawmaker, the issue could degenerate to a breakdown of law and order if nothing positive was done to address the demands of the communities at the expiration of the 21 days ultimatum given by these youths to shut down the facility.
He also expressed dismay that Okpai, has almost been washed away by erosion as a result of the activities at the power plant and the refusal of Agip to respect the terms of the EIA reports which made provision for the shore embankment of the community.
In the meantime, the lower chamber of the National Assembly has mandated an Ad-hoc Committee to look into the issue and has urged all the stakeholders including the youth bodies and NAOC to discuss the way forward before the expiration of the ultimatum and report back to the House within two weeks.
Comments are closed.