FIC Report (Abia State) – Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has expressed his gratitude and that of the entire state to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the appointment of Engr. Jennifer Adighije as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC). Engr. Jennifer Adighije is the daughter of Senator Chris Adighije, who once represented Abia Central Senatorial District in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.
Governor Otti, who had earlier thanked the President for the appointment, reaffirmed his gratitude to the president on Wednesday, 25th September, at his Umuehim Nvosi Country home, in Isiala Ngwa Local Government Area, when the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Engr. Jennifer Adighije and her team paid him a working visit.
“I want to start by thanking the President for this appointment, for the recognition of our daughter, a thoroughbred professional to head this agency. We were palpitating when that position became vacant because we were afraid that it may get into the wrong hands.”
The governor described the appointment as a square peg in a square hole; saying that he does not doubt that she will do well and make Abia proud.
Recalling what he saw during his inspection tour of the NDPHC facility at the Alaoji area in Ugwunagbor LGA of the State some months ago, Governor Otti described the NDPHC as a behemoth and big elephant that has been malnourished and somehow mismanaged. He explained that when NDPHC becomes efficiently functional and fully operational, it would export power beyond the Southeast and South-South zones of Nigeria to other zones of the country and probably West Africa.
Speaking further, Governor Otti said that power is central to his administration’s socioeconomic development plans for the State, which was the reason he went for the best hand in the person of Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, a trained employee of General Electric, USA, seconded to the Netherlands to drive his vision for a stable power supply for the state as the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities He said he charged him to give special attention to Geometric Integrated Power in Aba to ensure that the issues hampering its full operation are resolved.
While acknowledging that the Geometric Integrated Power Project is a private sector-driven enterprise, he explained that it is the business of the Government to support private businesses by creating the enabling environment for the private sector to flourish and create the needed jobs for the jobless, adding that the Government can only create a limited number of jobs for the many unemployed citizens.
Governor Otti said that he, alongside the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, MD of Geometric, and the GMD of NNPC some weeks ago, met with the Vice President, His Excellency, Sen. Kashim Shettima to resolve the issue of the unavailability of gas to Geometric as a major issue affecting Geometric Power from providing Aba with a constant power supply.
“A few weeks ago, the Hounorable Commissioner, myself, the CEO of Geometric together with the then CEO of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and the GMD of NNPC, we all met at the VP’s residence just to deal with this gas issue because the capacity is there, just looking for gas and we have gas in Abia State”.
Speaking further, Governor Otti disclosed, “We have also started an initiative to buy the Umuahia Island of the Enugu DISCO. In fact, we are at an advanced stage in the discussions; all the parties are negotiating. The whole idea is to take control of power distribution in the State”.
Earlier in her address, Engr. Adighije said that they were in the state on a working visit because they are touring all the power plants within her portfolio, which Aloji Power plant in Abia is part of. According to her, the Aloji power plant is being upgraded from open circle to combined circle.
Engr. Adighije added that no meaningful development can take place without access to electricity. Hence, they are working on optimizing their assets.
She commended Governor Otti for his remarkable performance within a short time in office, describing him as the golden boy of the southeast.
“Your Excellency, your remarkable performance in your few months in office is apparent to all, and my team insisted that we must pay this courtesy call to this golden boy of the Southeast.”
“Your Excellency, your keenness to bring about socioeconomic development is next to none, and as a company, we are here to pledge our support to you.”
Engr. Adighije came with a team of other experts and engineers.
Abiakam Gloria Ifeyinwa
HOC, FIC, Abia State
