The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has described the publication by Sahara Reporters accusing the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, reckless spending and corruption as dubious and ill intended attempt to smear her person and mislead well‑meaning Nigerians.
In a statement signed by Head, Corporate and External Communications of NDPHC, Emmanuel Ojor, and seen by Blueprint on Sunday, the Company stated that Engr. Adighije since she resumed office has focused on turning the fortunes of the Company around through Optimization of the its assets in order to ramp up revenue while curtailing excessive and unjustified expenditure; Enhance NDPHC’s liquidity by aggressively pursuing the recovery of the monumental debts owed to the Company for energy already delivered; Optimize internal processes to drive operational ; and Leveraging technology to enhance the USE ATIKU BAGUDU’s PIC of the workforce.
According to the Company those conversant with NDPHC’s priorities know that adding new generation capacity is not the immediate priority of NDPHC at this time, given USE ATIKU BAGUDU’s PIC significant stranded capacity already available in the Company’s fleet of plants, the lack of adequate wheeling capacity in the national grid to evacuate and dispatch this power, and the hundreds of billions of Naira currently owed to NDPHC for power that has already been generated and delivered to the electricity market.”
The debunked claims that its MD approved the sum of N900 million for 25 year celebration when in fact it was established 20-years ago, insisting that she does not have the powers to unilaterally approve such an amount as Vice President Kasshim Shettima heads the NDPHC.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Managing Director cannot, ÿt% has not, unilaterally approved any such expenditure of N900 million for any event. To raise alarm over a figure that has not been approved, and whose details (if it exists) have not even been finalised, only confirms the ill motive behind this smear campaign,” the company explained.
The suggestion that there is “zero impact” is not only unfounded but regrettable when the MD’s achievements are widely published.
The company noted that while systemic challenges in the power sector persist, NDPHC under the current leadership has made significant strides in stabilizing operations and positioning the company for sustainable growth.
Some notable achievements of the NDPHC’s MD in her one year in office include: Recovery of 110 containers worth over $5 million containing critical turbine parts, HRSG parts and other materials that had been abandoned at Onne port for over 9 years; Recoup investments; Plant assets restoration; and the recovery of over $10 million from bilateral customers in legacy debts
Also, staff morale has improved with the introduction of management support allowance to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal across all cadres of staff
Capital projects completion: Completion of 1×7.5MVA 33/11kv injection substation with 3km 33kv line in Borno state university, Maiduguri, Borno state, Completion of 1×7.5MVA 33/11kv injection substation with 1km 33kv line & 8 nos 330kv distribution transformers at Orogun, Delta state, Completion of 1x15MVA, 33/11kV Injection substation with 1km of 33kV line, 5km of LT Line and supply and installation of 3nos. 500KVA 11/0.415KV Distribution Transformers in College of Agriculture, Maiduguri, Borno State, Completion of Afam-Ikot Ekpene Double-Circuit Transmission Line and Afam 330KV Line Bay Extension (NIPP Lot 4T).
Other projects include: Commencement of the delivery and connection of commercial cluster in Agbara industrial estate to the Grid under the “Light up Nigeria” project, Commencement of the site acquisition for the delivery of 10MW embedded generation solution via solar renewable energy to serve customers in an industrial area in Kano, Commencement of the restoration of the Gbarain NIPP 225MW plant which has been dormant since year 2020, Bilateral transactions: Unlocking about 500MW executed in power purchase agreements PPAs currently awaiting NERC approval to operationalize, Engaged SIEMENS to carry out extended minor inspections at Geregu NIPP which has been successfully completed thereby extending the plants EOH, Secured insurance claims from underwriters to defray about $15 million insurance claims on fire incident at Alaoji plant, and Resolution of the lingering dispute with ACCUGAS on outstanding invoices leading to the mutually agreed amendment of the GSA to reduce the contractual exposure of the government.
While advising Sahara Reporters and all responsible media outlets to seek clarification from her office on any issue relating to NDPHC before publication, the company assured that “NDPHC and its Managing Director remain committed to transparency, accountability and constructive engagement with the public, the company warned that Engr. Adighije will not hesitate to exercise her fundamental rights — including seeking legal redress — against any media platform that publishes demonstrably false allegations against her without affording her a fair opportunity to respond.”
She therefore strongly advised SR to withdraw this malicious story.
