The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has boosted Nigeria’s electricity supply with the return of 450 megawatts of generation capacity to the national grid.
The company confirmed the addition on Monday, explaining that the improvement followed the completion of scheduled maintenance at the Geregu National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) plant in Ajaokuta, Kogi State. The work, carried out by Siemens Energy during a four-week inspection, was aimed at strengthening the plant’s reliability and extending its operational lifespan.
NDPHC Managing Director, Jennifer Adighije, said the company has made significant progress over the past year in reviving idle power assets. She disclosed that six previously inactive gas turbines across various NIPP plants have been restored, including units in Calabar, Omotosho, Benin, and Sapele. Two additional turbines at the Alaoji plant are awaiting final commissioning once gas supply issues are resolved.
According to her, the restored units collectively offer up to 875MW in mechanical generation capacity—representing a major uplift for the company and the national power system.
Adighije also revealed that work has started on bringing the long-idle 225MW Gbarain plant in Bayelsa State back to service. The facility has been offline since 2020.
She noted that despite persistent challenges in the electricity sector, NDPHC has continued to achieve notable operational gains. These include retrieving critical turbine parts abandoned at Onne Port for nearly a decade, advancing industrial power projects in Ogun and Kano states, and completing major transmission upgrades in Borno and Delta.
The company has also recovered more than $10 million in outstanding debts from customers, secured $15 million in insurance compensation for a fire incident at the Alaoji plant, and progressed discussions with regulators to recover its investments in key transmission infrastructure.
Adighije added that the company has introduced new accountability measures including procurement reforms and computer-based performance assessments to strengthen internal operations. Staff welfare initiatives have also been rolled out to cushion the impact of economic pressures.
She reaffirmed NDPHC’s commitment to restoring idle capacity and supporting ongoing efforts to deliver more stable and reliable electricity across the country.
