President of the Light Up Ndokwa Association, Chief Stanley Nkem Adoh, has declared that the implementation of the Okpai Independent Power Plant (IPP) step-down project remains the foremost developmental priority of the people of Ndokwa Nation, describing it as the catalyst for economic growth, improved security and sustainable development across the area.
Speaking on the state of development in Ndokwa Nation during the weekend, Adoh lamented that despite the region’s enormous contributions to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, it continues to suffer neglect, particularly in the area of electricity supply.
He recalled that during the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Okpai IPP in 2002, experts recommended that 50 megawatts of electricity from the plant be stepped down to communities within a 50-kilometre radius, covering Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani Local Government Areas.
According to him, the recommendation was reaffirmed when the power plant was commissioned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005, but more than two decades later, the project has yet to be implemented.
Adoh described the prolonged delay as a major setback to the development of the oil-rich region, stressing that the availability of stable electricity would unlock the economic potential of Ndokwa Nation by attracting industries, supporting small and medium-scale enterprises and creating employment opportunities for thousands of young people.
“The Okpai IPP step-down project is the number one priority of Ndokwa people because it has the capacity to transform our economy. With reliable power supply, businesses will flourish, investors will come, industries will emerge and our youths will have meaningful employment,” he said.
He added that beyond economic benefits, the project would significantly reduce insecurity by addressing the root causes of kidnapping, youth restiveness and other social vices driven by unemployment and lack of opportunities.
The Light Up Ndokwa Association president also expressed concern that only a handful of communities currently enjoy electricity through the corporate social responsibility initiatives of oil companies, while the overwhelming majority of the more than 150 communities in Ndokwa Nation remain without reliable power supply.
While acknowledging other developmental challenges, including poor road infrastructure, Adoh insisted that the implementation of the Okpai IPP step-down project should receive immediate attention from both the Federal and Delta State governments because of its far-reaching impact on security, commerce and overall socio-economic development.
He urged the relevant authorities to honour earlier commitments to the host communities by ensuring the speedy execution of the project, maintaining that its completion would mark a turning point in the development of Ndokwa Nation.
