Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to sustained reforms in the power sector as the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Speaking at the event held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, Shettima acknowledged NDPHC’s contributions to national development over the past two decades.
He described the Electricity Act 2023 as a turning point for Nigeria’s power sector, noting that the law strengthens NDPHC’s legal authority, boosts its commercial credibility, and provides a firm institutional footing for the company to compete, partner, and grow in a more open energy market.
In a statement signed by NDPHC’s Head of Corporate Communications and External Relations, Emmanuel Ojor, the Vice President, who chairs the company’s board, said the milestone presents an opportunity for institutional evolution.
According to him, the board is repositioning NDPHC from an integration-driven entity to a commercially disciplined, market-focused enterprise while remaining committed to its national mandate.
He added that the board is prioritising value extraction from existing assets, strengthening contracts, boosting market participation, ensuring governance-led commercialisation, managing risks responsibly, and investing in human capital.
“As Chairman, I wish to state unequivocally that the board remains fully committed to its responsibilities. We will continue to provide strategic direction, uphold the highest governance standards, support management in making sound and accountable decisions, protect shareholder value on behalf of Nigerians, and keep NDPHC aligned with national energy and development goals,” Shettima said.
He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for restoring investor confidence in the power sector.
“At a time the sector demanded not just policy but results, Mr President delivered discipline and reform. He has restored confidence and created the conditions for institutions such as NDPHC to thrive,” the Vice President added.
Earlier, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, highlighted NDPHC’s critical role in expanding and safeguarding Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity.
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He said the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) has enabled the company to develop generation plants and value-chain infrastructure nationwide, building one of Africa’s largest portfolios of government-backed power assets.
“Whether in the field restoring turbines, in control rooms ensuring dispatch, in procurement, or in policy and stakeholder engagement, your contributions are visible in operating plants and in the lives benefiting from improved electricity supply,” Adelabu said.
The minister disclosed that NDPHC recently restored 345 megawatts of generation capacity to the national grid, including 120MW from Omotosho NIPP, 112.5MW from Benin NIPP, and 112.5MW from Ihovbor (Geregu/Talata) NIPP.
He also highlighted the “Light Up Nigeria” project, aimed at boosting industrialisation and providing reliable electricity to industrial clusters nationwide.
“These achievements reflect the gains of reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to improve reliability, expand access, and attract investments under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Adelabu added.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, commended NDPHC Managing Director, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, for her outstanding performance in a short period.
“I am pleased to see a woman appointed to this office performing exceptionally well. I commend Engr. Jennifer Adighije for her remarkable work,” Ekpo said.
He stressed that sustainable power supply remains central to the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that electricity is fundamental to industrialisation and economic growth.
“Without power, there can be no industrialisation, and our homes cannot function optimally. From her presentation and sector improvements, I am confident Nigeria is heading in the right direction,” he added.
Ekpo also praised leadership at the board level, extending commendation to the Vice President for providing strong guidance.
In her remarks, Adighije reaffirmed NDPHC’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s energy infrastructure and supporting national development.
She said the company has executed projects across generation, transmission, and distribution segments of the electricity value chain.
“In transmission alone, we have added over 9,000 MVA of transformer capacity, rolled out substations, line-bay extensions, and constructed hundreds of kilometres of transmission lines nationwide,” she said.
Adighije added that NDPHC is adopting a customer-centric strategy and leveraging the Electricity Act to deepen collaborations with bilateral partners, eligible customers, regional partners under the West African Power Pool, and other market participants.
She further disclosed that, with the approval of President Tinubu and the Minister of Power, NDPHC has accessed the bond market under the power sector refinancing plan to raise funds to settle government debts to power generation companies, describing the initiative as a potential game changer for Nigeria’s power sector.
