Bassey Dan-Abia, MD, NDDC
The multi-billion naira 132KV Transmission Line and two 30MVA, 132/33KV substation with associated 33KV overhead lines built by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, at Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State has been inaugurated. Performing the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo said the project was a big boost to the efforts of the Federal Government to expand electrification network across the country.
He gave kudos to the Board and Management of the NDDC for working in tandem with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan. “This is what happens when you have a good team working for the people of the Niger Delta. The leadership in NDDC has shown that it is passionate about providing power to the people and I commend them for conceiving this worthy project,” he said.
Prof. Nebo said that it was heart-warming to learn that many more of such electricity projects were being constructed by the NDDC in different parts of the Niger Delta. He added: “Mr. President is delivering essential amenities through the NDDC and he has shown through this project that he cares for the rural communities.”
In his address at the commissioning, the NDDC Managing Director, Sir (Barr) Bassey Dan-Abia, said that the Oghara substation was among a cluster of electrification projects initiated by the Delta State Government but taken over by the NDDC in 2011 at the request of the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan. He said: “This underscores the synergy and collaboration that exist between the commission and the member state governments. As at when the take-over happened, the project was yet to take off, and the NDDC executed it from scratch to completion.”
He said that with the completion of the project, the constant power available at the Benin-Ugheli 132 transmission line would be stepped down to 33KV, which would in turn power the existing 33/11KV 7.5MVA injection substation at Oghara. He assured that this would significantly improve the power supply at Oghara and its environs with a direct benefit to small and medium scale enterprises.
“With the coming on stream of this project, a step down from 132KV to 33KV has been achieved. As you may all be aware, as close as Oghara is to the Sapele Power Station, it could not benefit from the power being generated at Sapele, because there was no step down. The 132KV grid line from Ugheli Power Station to Benin also runs through Oghara, yet it could not be tapped. Now with the successful inauguration of this project, power supply in the whole Ethiope West Local Government Area and Delta in general, will improve significantly,” Barr. Dan-Abia said.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer said that the Oghara substation was the first in the series of major electricity projects being executed by the NDDC to be completed. “Among those on-going are the Omotosho to Okitipupa 132KV transmission line (56Km) and two 30MVA 132/33KV sub-station at Okitipupa –Ondo State; Benin to Ugo 132KV transmission line (40km) and two 30MVA, 132/33KV substation at Ugo in Orhiomron Local Government Area of Edo State; and Ikot Abasi to Ekparakwa 132KV transmission line and one 30KVA, 132/33KV substation at Ekparakwa in Akwa Ibom State.”
Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the NDDC Board, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw, emphasized that the Commission embarked on the Oghara substation and transmission line project in line with its mandate and belief that electricity was the foundation upon which modern day development was built and that it was pivotal to the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.
A representative of the Oghara community, Hon. Emmanuel Ighonemena, said the project had been the desire of the people from the area, “who had for many years suffered from epileptic power supply.”
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