The Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) is seeking the intervention of the Akwa Ibom State Government to resolve a N4 billion compensation deadlock that has stalled the 330kV Ikot Abasi Transmission Line project. The project, awarded in 2006 under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), has been delayed primarily due to unresolved community and wayleave compensation issues.
The NDPHC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Adighije, recently met with Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, to appeal for his intervention in the matter. Adighije disclosed that the latest valuation of the outstanding wayleave obligations was slightly below N4 billion. She expressed concern over the prolonged delay, which has prevented the contractor, Anit Energy, from completing the project.
According to Adighije, the contractor had completed about 90 per cent of the engineering, procurement and construction procurement for the project. Substantial project materials, including conductors and tower members worth millions of dollars, had already been deployed along the project corridor between Adiasim and Ikot Ekpene. However, the materials are still lying across communities due to the ongoing impasse.
Adighije told the governor that resolving the outstanding community issues would enable the contractor to remobilise to site and bring the long-delayed project to completion. The NDPHC is targeting May 29, 2027, for the commissioning of the transmission line, subject to the successful resolution of the outstanding compensation and community challenges.
The NDPHC boss also expressed the company's desire to support the state's development ambitions through its role as a major interventionist agency in Nigeria's electricity sector. She welcomed the establishment of the Akwa Ibom State Electricity Regulatory Commission and said NDPHC had commenced discussions with the commission on the development of appropriate electricity-market frameworks for the state.
Governor Eno welcomed the NDPHC initiative and pledged to take the Ikot Abasi project before the State Executive Council for consideration. The governor said the state government would examine the outstanding issues and determine how it could intervene to facilitate the completion of the project.
NDPHC Executive Director, Strategy and Commercial, Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon, commended the Governor's administration for its development initiatives across the state. The NDPHC is keen to support the state's development ambitions and extend electricity access to underserved communities.
Key points
- The N4 billion compensation dispute is threatening the completion of the 330kV Ikot Abasi Transmission Line project.
- The project has been delayed primarily due to unresolved community and wayleave compensation issues.
- The NDPHC is targeting May 29, 2027, for the commissioning of the transmission line.
