Senator Ned Nwoko has been commended for taking his mandate very seriously especially on the issue of the Okpai Independent Power Plant which has been neglected for the past 19 years.
As far back as 2005, former President Olusegun Obasanjo during its commissioning, directed that the 50 megawatts of electricity should benefit the host communities within a 50- Kilometer radius from the project.
Fred Akpewe, media analyst, in his statement in Asaba maintained that for the past 19 years since the plant was commissioned, Senator Nwoko appears to be the first senator from the district to spearhead a pragmatic approach towards the speedy implementation of the project to serve the people from Delta North.
Akpewe, while lamenting that all efforts to get the federal government and its relevant agencies to take this step have been difficult, said the need for the Delta State government to step in to do the needful is important.
He reminded that Senator Nwoko had some time this year paid a working visit to the minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu and the managing director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Ahmed to find a quick way to fix the lingering IPP project but that Ahmed identified lack of funds as being the primary obstacle to the project completion.
According to him, it is sad for some persons to say that Senator Nwoko ought not to have asked Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to help fund the project on the grounds that it was not a state project.
“It is in realization that the Okpai IPP will serve more of the interest of Delta State that Senator Ned Nwoko approached the Delta State government to fund and complete the project for use by Deltans.”
While saying there is nothing new in a state government funding a private or federal government project if it serves the interests of its citizens, he referred to a letter dated 26th June, 2024, written by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation over the Ogwashi Uku dam and handed over to Senator Nwoko with a clear request for Delta State to do their counterpart funding.
“The Okpai IPP project is not the only project in Delta State that is agitating the mind of Senator Ned Nwoko. The Ogwashi Uku Dam which is being handled by the federal government has suffered several hiccups. Specifically, Ogwashi Uku and other 60 adjoining communities for purposes of water supply and farm irrigation, amongst other benefits.
“Another project in Delta North which is dear to Senator Nwoko, heart is the proposed Asaba-Oko-Okpai-Aboh- Patani road which will naturally improve coastal commerce on that axis and also lessen travel time for traders wishing to do business in Onitsha and the Eastern bloc and vice versa.
“Senator Ned Nwoko has refused to accept the continued denial of support for critical life-changing projects for Delta North on the excuse of paucity of funds judging by the quantum of funds accruing to Delta state from the federation account and even the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR),” Akpewe stated.
