The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Mr. Chiedu Adighije, has reaffirmed the company’s commitment to restoring dormant power plants across the country in a bid to boost Nigeria’s electricity generation and improve national grid stability.
Adighije made this known during a stakeholders’ forum in Lagos on Thursday, where he outlined NDPHC’s current interventions in the power sector. According to him, several power plants under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) have been inactive due to a combination of technical challenges, poor gas supply, and infrastructural bottlenecks.
Reviving Nigeria’s Idle Capacity
The NDPHC boss noted that reviving these plants is central to the Federal Government’s energy reform agenda. “We are working tirelessly to bring dormant facilities back into operation. Some of these plants have the potential to add over 2,000 megawatts to the national grid if optimally utilized,” Adighije said.
He added that the company has already commenced rehabilitation works in key facilities, including the Geregu, Omotosho, and Ihovbor plants, while engaging with gas suppliers to ensure a more reliable fuel supply.
Addressing Gas Constraints
One of the persistent issues affecting Nigeria’s power generation is inadequate gas infrastructure. Adighije acknowledged the challenge, stating that the NDPHC is collaborating with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and other industry players to guarantee steady gas delivery to power plants.
“We cannot continue to run power plants without securing their primary fuel source. Our strategy is to create sustainable gas agreements that will prevent the kind of shutdowns we have seen in the past,” he explained.
A Push for Reliable Power Supply
Nigeria currently generates an average of 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts for a population of over 200 million, a figure experts say is grossly insufficient to drive industrialization and economic growth. Adighije assured Nigerians that the ongoing rehabilitation will not only increase capacity but also strengthen transmission and distribution channels for more reliable power delivery.
“Our ultimate goal is to make power available and affordable for households and industries. The revival of dormant power plants is only the beginning of a more sustainable energy roadmap,” he stressed.
Looking Ahead
The NDPHC chief further disclosed that the company is exploring partnerships with private investors to enhance efficiency in plant operations. He emphasized that with proper management, Nigeria’s power plants could become a cornerstone for economic transformation.
Stakeholders present at the event expressed optimism that the renewed efforts by NDPHC could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s long-standing electricity challenges, provided the government sustains its support and addresses lingering sector-wide constraints.
