Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Edo State Government has expressed optimism that the licensing of Edo North Electricity Company Limited to develop a 200-megawatt Independent Power Plant (IPP) will significantly boost electricity supply and improve power stability across the Edo North Senatorial District.
Speaking after the company received its licence certificate, the Commissioner for Power, Hon. Paul Usenbo, described the development as a major milestone for the project.
He noted that the company had successfully completed rigorous financial and technical assessments over the past few months, paving the way for the project’s implementation.
According to him, the project is now set to commence full implementation, with the Ministry of Power expected to closely monitor its progress during a 365-day implementation period to ensure that agreed timelines are met.
Usenbo said the monitoring mechanism would help prevent delays and ensure that the project delivers on its objectives, adding that a similar approach had yielded results in other power projects, including CCTC.
The commissioner further disclosed that 10 per cent equity in the project had been secured by the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, describing the investment as evidence of the administration’s commitment to addressing the state’s power challenges.
He said the 200MW plant is expected to provide additional electricity to support the national grid and complement the operations of electricity distribution companies in the state.
He expressed confidence that the project would help reduce the impact of inadequate power supply from the national grid and bring greater stability to electricity distribution in Edo State, particularly within the Edo North Senatorial District.
“Edo State is very hopeful that with these inclusions, we will be able to achieve our goal,” he said, stressing that the project was designed to support, rather than replace, the national electricity grid.
Meanwhile, he called for stronger community involvement in protecting power infrastructure across the state, particularly against vandalism.
He said stakeholder engagements were already being held with communities on the need to safeguard electricity infrastructure, stressing that community policing would be critical to protecting the facilities.
According to him, many acts of vandalism are perpetrated by people within the communities where the infrastructure is located, making local participation indispensable.
He therefore urged residents across Edo State’s 18 local government areas to take ownership of critical electricity infrastructure and work with security agencies to prevent vandalism.
He maintained that protecting the infrastructure must not be left solely to the police, as effective community participation would be required to secure the investments and ensure that residents ultimately benefit from improved electricity supply.
On the part of the Executive Director of Trade and Marketing, Edo North Electricity Company Ltd,
Mr. Nosa Imasuen, he said the company recently secured a long-awaited certificate through the efforts of the Edo State Government, led by Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo, in collaboration with the Ministry of Power.
He explained that the certificate marks a major milestone for the company, whose primary goal is to improve electricity supply across the Edo North axis.
Mr Imasuen added that the company aims to provide power to communities that have gone for years without electricity, while complementing the government’s efforts and strengthening the existing power infrastructure in the area.
