The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), a critical player in Nigeria’s power sector, has made significant investments in bolstering the nation’s transmission infrastructure. NDPHC’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Jennifer Adighije, revealed during an inspection of the Lafia Transmission Substation in Nasarawa State that the company has invested over N500 billion in transmission projects nationwide. These investments encompass a wide range of infrastructure upgrades, including transmission lines, substations, transformer installations, and line-bay extensions. This substantial financial commitment underscores NDPHC’s dedication to enhancing power delivery across the country and addressing the persistent challenges that have plagued Nigeria’s electricity sector. The Lafia substation, commissioned in 2022, serves as a prime example of NDPHC’s investment strategy and its commitment to delivering world-class infrastructure.
The Lafia Transmission Substation, a 330/132/33kV facility, represents a significant stride in improving power supply to Nasarawa State and its surrounding areas. Equipped with two 150MVA transformers, two 60MVA transformers, and a 75MVA reactor, the substation adheres to global best practices and signifies NDPHC’s focus on building robust and reliable infrastructure. Adighije emphasized that the substation was constructed to world-class standards, reflecting the company’s commitment to quality and its mandate to provide backbone services for the power sector. This investment is expected to significantly enhance power delivery and contribute to the overall stability of the national grid.
Despite the liquidity challenges facing Nigeria’s power sector, NDPHC remains steadfast in its commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes improving access to electricity. Adighije highlighted the company’s focus on scaling generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure to ensure more Nigerians have access to reliable power. She addressed concerns about NDPHC’s generation capacity, clarifying that the primary bottleneck lies in the limitations of the transmission network, not the company’s ability to generate power. The existing transmission infrastructure struggles to handle the current generation capacity, resulting in stranded power. NDPHC is actively working to expand the transmission network to evacuate this stranded power and make it available to consumers.
During a courtesy visit to Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, Adighije emphasized the opportunities presented by the new Electricity Act, which promotes market-driven operations in the power sector. This new framework empowers NDPHC to stimulate market activities at the state level, facilitating last-mile electricity delivery and benefiting both the state and the company. This approach aligns with NDPHC’s broader goal of ensuring that the benefits of improved power infrastructure reach end-users, ultimately improving the lives of Nigerians.
Governor Sule commended Adighije’s leadership and acknowledged the positive changes at NDPHC under her tenure. However, he highlighted a critical challenge: the inadequate distribution infrastructure in Nasarawa State. Despite the improved transmission capacity, the distribution network struggles to effectively deliver power to consumers. Governor Sule stressed the need for collaboration among all stakeholders, including distribution companies (Discos), to address this bottleneck. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that generated power is actually utilized, as unused power represents a financial loss for the sector. This underscores the interconnectedness of the power sector and the need for a coordinated approach to infrastructure development.
In conclusion, NDPHC’s substantial investment in transmission infrastructure, exemplified by the Lafia Transmission Substation, demonstrates the company’s commitment to improving Nigeria’s power sector. While acknowledging the challenges related to liquidity and distribution infrastructure, NDPHC remains focused on expanding transmission capacity to evacuate stranded power and enhance electricity access. The company’s alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda and the new Electricity Act underscores its forward-looking approach. The collaboration between NDPHC and state governments, like Nasarawa State, highlights the importance of partnerships in addressing the complex challenges facing the power sector and ensuring that investments translate into tangible benefits for Nigerian citizens. The focus remains on ensuring that generated power reaches consumers effectively, thereby driving economic growth and improving quality of life.
