By CHARLES IWUOHA

Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, is seeking for Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) support and collaboration in power projects delivery across the five South-East states to enhance the industrialisation drive of the zone.

In a statement in Abakaliki the state capital, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Francis Nwaze, said Umahi made this known during his courtesy call with Ebonyi National Assembly members to the company on Monday.

The Governor commended the MD/CEO of NDPHC and his team for their performance which has demonstrated in their re-appointment for another four years in office. He seeks more projects from NDPHC.

Umahi who called on the need to have discussions with the South-East Governor’s Forum with a view to benefiting from the Alaoji Thermal Power Station located in Aba, Abia State, where the power can be effectively evacuated to meet the industrial hubs of the State and the region at large.

He enjoined the Management of NDPHC that the State will be ready to cooperate with his Management in order to boost Power delivery to his people.

Speaking at occasion, MD/CEO Chiedu Ugbo, informed the Governor that NDPHC has started the Transmission projects connecting Nkalagu-Abakaliki and other Distribution projects in Afikpo where CSP Transformers on 11kv lines were installed.

He told the Governor that the Abakaliki-Afikpo project has gotten BPP approval which was contained in the 2020 budget but delayed due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

Furthermore, Mr. Ugbo stated that NDPHC is discussing with Enugu DISCO to improve the network in order to enhance Power supply to the network through the Eligible Customer arrangement and this step will address the issue of stranded Power in the region and ultimately increase revenue to NDPHC.

According to him, NDPHC is engaging another contractor to finish the construction of Egbema and Omoku Power Stations which will ensure power availability to all states of the federation.

NIPP is owned by the three tiers of government; the Federal, State, and Local Governments. It's board is chaired by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, with six Governors from the six geo-political zones of the country including some Ministers.

Umahi was accompanied by the former governor of Ebonyi, Senator Sam Egwu, Sen. Nnachi, Ogbaga, Igariwey, Makwe, Nwazunku, alongside other federal legislators.