Atoyebi Hails Babayo, Adighije Over Rigasa Power Project

The Convener of the BAT Ideological Group (BAT-IG), Bamidele Atoyebi, has commended the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, and the company’s Executive Director (Networks), Engr. Bello Babayo, for their roles in the ongoing Rigasa electricity project in Kaduna State.

Atoyebi, who is also the National Coordinator of Accountability and Policy Monitoring, made the commendation in a statement, describing the two officials’ leadership and commitment as instrumental to the project’s implementation. He particularly praised Adighije for fostering a leadership culture focused on the growth and development of her team, saying her support had been critical to the execution of the project.

He said the Rigasa community had endured electricity challenges for more than 15 years, while efforts over the past five years to restore stable power supply had yielded no results.

According to him, the project took a different direction after discussions with Babayo, whom he described as a technocrat committed to delivering sustainable solutions to electricity challenges.

Atoyebi said the project initially underwent a technical scoping exercise which concluded that a single transformer and the transfer of the existing Rigasa feeder to a 33kV line would be sufficient to restore electricity to the area.

He, however, said a more detailed technical review revealed that the proposal would not adequately meet the community’s electricity demand, insisting that the construction of a dedicated injection substation was necessary to ensure a lasting solution.

According to him, Babayo personally supported a fresh technical assessment to resolve the conflicting reports and eliminate bureaucratic delays, leading to an independent re-scoping of the project site within 24 to 48 hours.

He said the reassessment corrected the assumptions contained in the initial report and established the technical requirements needed for the successful execution of the project, which he noted is now in its final stage.

Atoyebi said the intervention had restored confidence among residents of the community, adding that the electricity challenge had previously contributed to protests and political dissatisfaction during the 2023 general elections.

He said Babayo’s approach to public service reflected what he described as the political ideology and governing philosophy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to Atoyebi, Babayo represented “the true essence of the Tinubu administration” by prioritising permanent solutions to infrastructure challenges rather than temporary interventions aimed at attracting political attention.

He further argued that Babayo’s actions aligned with President Tinubu’s vision of expanding electricity access and improving public infrastructure, adding that his commitment to addressing community needs distinguished him from what he described as self-proclaimed political loyalists.

The BAT-IG convener also disclosed that more than 300 underserved communities had approached the group seeking assistance with electricity-related challenges.

He said that after informing Babayo of the requests, the NDPHC executive immediately encouraged the group to forward the communities for consideration.

Atoyebi said the BAT Ideological Group would continue to identify underserved communities, document their needs and escalate them to relevant government agencies for intervention.

He also commended the Federal Government’s ongoing investments in the power sector, including efforts to upgrade electricity infrastructure and address legacy challenges in the industry.

He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for appointing officials whom he described as dedicated public servants, adding that leaders such as Adighije and Babayo had continued to complement the administration’s efforts by addressing infrastructure gaps across the country.