Category: Business Day

The plan by the Federal Government to boost oil palm industry in some key states was said to have hit the rocks in Rivers State. This is said to have caused a crash of the oil palm industry in the hydrocarbon headquarters.

Now, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is seen to reactivate the oil palm industry to make it an export product to earn foreign exchange.

The outcry was rendered at a workshop by the South-South Regional Office of NEPC to strengthen oil palm export clusters for global competitiveness and airfreighting held in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

Erasmus Chukunda, the Rivers State Chairman of the Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN), who has been in the oil palm industry for decades, said the plan to boost oil palm industry in 2018 got stock in Rivers State.

He said the FG had asked selected States to provide 100 hectares of land each to form the base of a huge loan package from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to help meet a one million metric tons per year (1mmtpy) shortfall in palm oil consumption.

Oil Palm industry value chain practitioners and exporters at the NEPC workshop in Port Harcourt Tuesday, October 28, 2025

He said the CBN was providing $600m per year to support import of palm oil but that the FG frowned at it, thus prodding the apex bank to seek local production. Chukunda, who was Director-General of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce (PHCCIMA) for many years said Rivers State then did not do much but later provided 10,000 ha.

To the chagrin of the over 6,000 OPGAN members in the State, the paltry 10,000ha was never handed to the Association to start massive growing of oil palm plantation as the Federal Government envisaged.

He said the members went ahead to secure $700m from the CBN and used it to set up some plantations, 10 milling clusters, etc. He said: ‘Let the Rivers State government hear it, that they did not do anything to help oil palm industry in the CBN and FG scheme. ‘Rivers State was number one in oil palm industry, today, Edo State has taken over just the way Nigeria fell off the first spot to Indonesia. Rivers State has fallen off because the state for years has not been responsive.’

He however said he remained hopeful now that Governor Sim Fubara is back to seat. His optimism seemed to get some lift when Joe Johnson, the newly assigned Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, who was commissioner of information and communications until the suspension, said to the large audience that the State Government is keen to act.

Chukunda said how much he believed Johnson, thus: ‘We are sure that by the return to the office, our Governor HE Siminalayi Fubara, will attend to OPGAN needs as indicated by the new Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in his goodwill message at the just concluded Nigerian Export Promotion Council, South-South Regional Office One Day Workshop on ‘Strengthening Oil Palm Export Clusters for Global Competitiveness and Airfreighting’ in Port Harcourt.

In his welcome remarks, Benedict Itegbe, Regional Coordinator, South-South Regional Office of NEPC, said the workshop was basically to set agenda. ‘The workshop will focus on enhancing the capacity of stakeholders in the oil palm export value chain, understanding quality certifications, market access requirements, and exploring strategies for engaging international buyers.’

Itegbe, an architect, said the workshop was to help reroute export point to Port Harcourt International Airport. He said Lagos airport for now accounts for over $150m worth of goods per year now, while Port Harcourt airport does about 5% of that.

He also said the event was to also unveil the partnership between NEPC and Fidelity Bank. ‘We are working to strengthen non-oil export in the south-south. It will lead to a communique that would point to a roadmap for export boost in the zone.’

He later presented a paper on marketing strategies around the world.

In his goodwill message, Dogara Sagbere, Rivers State chairman, Nigerian Association of Small, Medium Enterprises (NASME), said NEPC is the most active government agency they know. ‘If all other agencies were to work like them. NEPC facilitated a grant to us three years ago, and it helped our members a lot.’

Speaking online, Nana Wanjua, Chief Gender Officer, Pan Africa Chamber of Commerce in Ethiopia office, said she was a real estate expert practitioner and a hotelier. She told women participants to be more enthusiastic and study harder, saying she failed at a point because she did not train well in it.

‘Now I am back to studying and I urge all women to always study. Create work-life-balance or work-life integration. I now travel with either my husband or with my two sons. Also create giving to others and to humanity as a way of life.’

Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s key economic hubs, was notably absent from the recently released 2025 State Fiscal Performance Index, raising concerns about transparency and the fiscal health of the state government.

Produced by BudgIT, the index assesses states based on debt sustainability, revenue generation, and budget reliability.

According to BudgIT, Rivers was excluded due to the unavailability of relevant data following months of political instability in the state.

In March, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all elected officials, and appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, Vice Admiral (rtd), to oversee the state’s affairs.

The officials were reinstated six months later, on September 18, after the president announced the end of the emergency rule.

BudgIT explained: ‘Rivers State is excluded from this report due to the removal of elected officers under the state of emergency. The state failed to produce an audited financial statement at the time of final data compilation for this report.

‘The implications are significant, as the absence of Rivers from the ranking means its usual top-five position will be taken by another state. It also affects subnational comparisons on IGR performance, given Rivers’ outsized influence on national averages.

‘For instance, Rivers’ gross FAAC allocation in 2023 exceeded the combined FAAC of Zamfara, Plateau, Sokoto, and Ogun. We look forward to featuring the state in the 2026 edition following the end of the emergency period.’

Rivers State’s exclusion is conspicuous, given that it topped BudgIT’s 2024 State Fiscal Performance Report in several key indices, including limited dependence on FAAC (Index A), ability to implement capital expenditure after meeting operating and loan obligations (Index B), and prioritisation of capital spending over recurrent expenditure (Index D).

With Rivers missing, other states have climbed in the rankings. Anambra now leads the 2025 fiscal performance list, followed by Lagos, Kwara, Abia, and Edo.

At the lower end of the ranking are Plateau, Kogi, Jigawa, Benue, and Yobe States.

The report also ranked Enugu, Lagos, Abia, Anambra, Kwara, and Ogun as the states with the least dependence on federal allocations, indicating stronger fiscal viability if they were to operate independently.

Conversely, Imo, Kogi, Jigawa, Benue, and Yobe ranked lowest in this category, highlighting heavy reliance on federally distributed revenues.

BudgIT urged lower-performing states to strengthen their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base and improve their business environment to enhance domestic resource mobilisation.

‘The lower-ranking states need to work harder to grow IGR or reduce operating expenses to achieve fiscal sustainability,’ the report said.

The Oyo State Government has expressed readiness to partner with investors who believe in the economic drive of the Seyi Makinde administration.

This was made known by Dotun Oyelade, Commissioner for Information, who led the team from the ministry to the Royal Entertainment Cruise Resort at Eleyele in Ibadan.

The facility which features a range of attractions such as a paint ball arena, children’s play area, snooker hall, boat cruise dock with several boats, speedboats, and a relaxation area that gives visitors a complete fun experience.

Speaking during the visit, Dotun Oyelade commended the Chief Executive Offficer, Sanmi Bamidele for his creativity and investment drive, describing the project as one that perfectly aligns with Governor Seyi Makinde’s vision to make tourism a key part of Oyo State’s economy.

‘We are delighted to see this kind of forward-thinking investment here in Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration believes that tourism can create jobs, boost local economies, and showcase Oyo as a leading destination for culture and leisure in Nigeria.’ he said.

The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on the ban of single-use plastics in Nigeria has proposed the introduction of a green tax on manufacturers of polypropylene – a common plastic used in packaging, disposable cups, woven bags, and household items.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at the committee’s inaugural meeting, Terseer Ugbor, chairman of the panel, said the house would also consider legislation to regulate polypropylene production and promote recycling as part of a national strategy to curb pollution and protect public health.

‘Polypropylene’s environmental impact is substantial and disturbing,’ Ugbor said. ‘During the production process, it releases toxic chemicals like formaldehyde and benzene, putting workers and nearby communities at risk. ‘It is responsible for enormous carbon emissions and relies heavily on fossil fuels, contributing to resource depletion. As waste, polypropylene isn’t biodegradable, lingering in landfills for up to 500 years and polluting our oceans and harming marine life in the process.

‘Nigeria cannot afford to continue on this path of environmental neglect. Our industries must take responsibility for the ecological footprints they leave behind.’

Ugbor said the committee would work with the Federal Ministry of Environment and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to develop a policy framework for the proposed green tax and integrate polypropylene recycling into the national waste management programme. ‘This committee will work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that sustainable, environmentally responsible solutions are not just recommended but implemented,’ he said.

The lawmaker added that the committee will hold a public hearing involving manufacturers, recyclers, and environmental experts to ensure that any proposed regulation is fair and effective.

‘This is not about taxation. It is about responsibility, sustainability, and protecting the future of our environment and our people,’ Ugbor said.

Last year, the House of Representatives urged the federal government to ban the production, importation, distribution, and use of styrofoam and single-use plastics nationwide.

Similarly, the Lagos State government announced a ban on the use and distribution of styrofoam and other single-use plastics within the state.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that striker Liam Delap will be available for selection ahead of the EFL Cup fourth-round clash against Wolves on Wednesday, marking a potential return after two months out with a hamstring injury.

The Blues will be aiming to bounce back from their 2-1 Premier League defeat to Sunderland as they travel to Molineux, and Maresca hinted that Delap could make his comeback in the fixture. ‘Liam completed the whole session with us yesterday with no problems, and he is available for tomorrow,’ Maresca said.

‘We have to be careful with Liam; he has been out for two months, so he won’t play 90 minutes. He needs to be gradually brought back up to 100 per cent.’

Delap, who joined Chelsea from relegated Ipswich Town, has been sidelined since August after a strong start to the campaign. His return offers a timely boost to Maresca, who continues to manage a packed fixture schedule across four competitions.

The Italian tactician also stressed the need for rotation as Chelsea prepare for demanding fixtures.

‘We need to rotate. We need to protect the players because if we go with the same XI, we are going to struggle during the season,’ Maresca said.

‘We’ll make some changes against Wolves, I don’t know how many, but rotation is important to keep everyone fresh.’

Chelsea, five-time winners of the League Cup and last champions in 2015, face a Wolves side currently rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and without a League Cup title since 1980.

The Blues will look to replicate their 6-0 victory over Wolves in their last meeting in the competition back in 2012.

Nigeria is rapidly transforming into one of Africa’s most dynamic hubs for artificial intelligence (AI) as the country is now shifting from experimentation to execution with major implications for business, government, and society, according to the Artificial Intelligence Landscape Report 2025 released by AI in Nigeria.

The report presented a comprehensive overview of Nigeria’s AI ecosystem, examining sector-readiness, regulatory activity, startup growth, and partnerships across fields such as healthcare, agriculture, education, manufacturing, and finance.

Kashifu Abdullahi, director-general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most transformative technologies of our time, redefining how societies function, how economies grow, and how governments serve their people.

‘For a country like Nigeria, AI presents an unprecedented opportunity to address development constraints and accelerate progress in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, finance, and public service delivery,’ he said.

‘Innovation in this space is not just desirable, it is essential to our national competitiveness, digital sovereignty, and inclusive growth,’ Abdullahi added.

Wole Adeniyi, chairman, Board of Trustees, AI in Nigeria Foundation, said, ‘Nigeria is in a strong position to lead. Not only in adopting AI, but in shaping a story that reflects our context, our values, and our aspirations. A story that speaks to the rest of Africa and to the world.’

Ehia Erhaboh, co-founder, AI-in-Nigeria, noted that the AI landscape in Nigeria has experienced significant shifts in the last two years, creating excitement as to what lies ahead.

‘There’s been increased policy engagement in ecosystem growth and wider sectoral interest, use cases, and applications. The momentum is growing and positioning Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s emerging AI transformation,’ he stated.

Overall, Nigeria is progressing from keen interest to strategic implementation. The launch of the draft Nigeria National AI Strategy (NAIS) in August 2024 marked the initiation of Nigeria’s formal AI strategy, according to him.

In February 2025, Nigeria established the Nigeria National AI Trust to oversee the implementation of the NAIS and AI investment across critical sectors. These steps highlight Nigeria on a trajectory to progress if execution is sustained.

The inclusion of Private sector leadership in the Trust and early investments by the Gates Foundation are early wins, which are signs of exciting things to come, he said.

The report argues that if Nigeria can scale its AI ecosystem effectively, it may not only improve productivity and service delivery but also develop exportable AI solutions for the continent and beyond.

‘As builders, investors and policymakers navigate a fast-changing AI landscape, this report is a clear guide to what is real and what is next,’ it stated.

The report identified over 120 startups across Nigeria leveraging AI to tackle local and global challenges. It noted that government strategy, industry partnerships, and regulatory frameworks are increasingly aligned to create an enabling environment.

Sector-by-sector analysis reveals that industries such as financial services, telecommunications, and education are further ahead, while agriculture and manufacturing still have significant room for AI-driven uplift.

The report underscores that Nigeria is not simply importing AI solutions but is actively developing solutions tailored to local realities. It, however, cautions that significant structural and systemic challenges remain, which include gaps in infrastructure (power supply, connectivity) and data readiness.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu were among the prominent personalities that attended the service of songs and night of tribute for Christopher Kolade, a former Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

At the well-attended event the leaders extolled the virtues of the deceased saying that he exhibited exceptional character while in public and private sector.

Kolade, who served as Managing Director and Chairman of Cadbury died on October 8 at the age of 92 years.

In his tribute to the late Kolade,Tinubu who was represented by his chief of staff, Femi Gbajabiamila extolled the virtues of the deceased, saying that he served the country with dexterity and integrity.

Tinubu described the late Kolade as a selfless and talented personality who served the country with distinction both in the private and public sector.

President Tinubu further stated that the late Kolade’s death was a great loss to Nigeria, stressing that he extended his legacies for those coming after him

He noted that he would be remembered for his exceptional character and through his foundation which he used to served humanity.

Tinubu prayed that God would grant his family the fultide to bear his death.

Similarly, in his tribute, former president Olusegun said the Kolade was a friend from way back.

He described the deceased as a very good friend.

He said, ‘Chris and I were friends for a very long time friends. I don’t have many of them but the ones that I have are very good friends.

‘Chris doesn’t haggled for anything. I had to beg him to accept to be Nigeria’s High Commissioner. After a lot of persuasion, he agreed.’

Obasanjo revealed that that the pleaded with the late Kolade before accepting to become Nigeria’s ambassador to the United Kingdom during his tenure.

Extolling the virtues of the late Kolade further, Obasanjo pointed out that the late Kolade was an upright man who would remembered for service to the country and his generation.

In his tribute, Okonjo Iweala, former Nigeria’s Finance Minister and Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) said that the deceased exhibited shining example while in public and private offices.

The former Finance Minister who spoke virtually stated that the late Kolade would be remembered as a man of courage who served with conviction and discipline.

She further prayed for God to grant his family the fortitude to bear his loss.

During his sermon earlier, Yinka Akinlade, Bishop of the Diocese of Ife described the late diplomat as ‘not a perfect man, but a good man.’

‘Today’s sermon is not about the dead but for us, the living,’ he told the congregation, urging self-reflection and spiritual renewal.

The bishop challenged attendees to examine what governs their lives and have the fer of God while on earth.

‘What are you allowing to take control of you? Is it the Spirit of God, or is it self and the world?’ he asked.

He emphasised the need to let the Holy Spirit guide one’s life, saying, ‘When you allow the Spirit of God to heal you, even if you die physically, you live on in the spirit’.

‘Jesus said, the one who believes in me that’s the Christian even when this flesh dies, he lives on.’

What measures are being prioritised to address historic risks, like crude theft, insecurity, and pipeline downtime, to secure these gains?

NewcrossEP continues to work closely with host communities, security agencies, and midstream partners to minimise losses.

Our most innovative approach to addressing the historic risks we’ve previously faced within our asset has been the crude shipping operations. We have virtually eliminated crude related losses which was the most significant source of value erosion on the asset.

The crude shipping architecture has evolved since inception as we continue to apply process improvements and learnings. Our focus going forward is sustainability and ensuring we can continue to deliver value with our crude shipping architecture at significantly lower cost.

Currently, NewcrossEP/NNPCL JV is utilising the crude oil shipping to the Export Terminal as an alternative evacuation strategy. This system has replaced the pipeline transportation system that is usually fraught with crude theft, vandalism, sabotage, and other nefarious interference activities.

What enabled Newcross EP to achieve the 2025 production uplift despite sector challenges hurdles?

The sector has gone through a lot recently. It has been challenging for the oil and gas business in Nigeria; however, it is all about risk-taking. High risk – high reward; low risk – low reward; no risk – no reward initiatives. NewcrossEP leverages on the wealth of experience and creativity its staff and key management possess.

The working-over of Ekulama-12 well was indeed very challenging. It could have gone south. The tubulars were very old (over 51 years), lethal and dilapidated with lots of punched holes. However, resilience got us moving and at the end of the operations, we were successful.

The Awoba NW-3 has its own challenges. Recall this is a new drill, and NewcrossEP has not drilled for over six years since 2019. There were issues during the top-hole drilling that made us sidetrack the well and was successfully completed.

The successful delivery of Eku-12 and Awoba NW 3 serve as prime examples of delivering value with no significant incident.

What lessons did the Ekulama-12 workover provide for future interventions?

The Ekulama-12 reactivation demonstrated that shut-in wells could deliver strong production when backed by rigorous diagnostics and engineering. Last produced in 2003, the well was successfully restored through detailed integrity checks, wellbore cleanout, completion repairs, and new flowline tie-ins. Key lessons include: Integrated well reviews and pre-workover diagnostics; early location preparation and facility readiness and Data-driven, and integrated re-entry planning.

Our asset was originally put on stream in the late 1970’s. There are more than 50 wells that have been drilled. Ekulama-12 provides a blueprint for revitalizing aged wells. We now have a greater understanding of the potential challenges vis-a-viz well integrity and can now prescribe a more efficient means of execution.

Proper planning, the use of right technology, critical stakeholder support, funding, and contractors are critical success factors.

How do these new volumes reshape your portfolio contribution, cash flow, and margin outlook by year-end?

These new volumes from Ekulama-12 and Awoba NW-3ST have increased our revenue generation by some margin. Overall, these new volumes are shaping our portfolio contribution, cash flow and margin outlook.

We are projected to increase our production by more than 33 percent by year-end. This will positively impact cash flow and serve as a key enabler in funding the continuation of our drilling campaign and other critical initiatives.

How are you balancing low-cost rigless interventions against new drilling campaigns in today’s tight investment climate?

In the spirit of cost ownership and best value delivery, we have been able to restore and enhance some wells in our field with rig-less interventions. Rig-less interventions provide a low-cost, quick win to ensuring at a minimum we can guard against the impact of natural production decline. Our production enhancement drive always consists of a mix of rig and rig-less opportunities. Although, a rig-less intervention cannot generate the same long-term value as drilling or working over a well, it still provides a cost-effective approach to incremental returns. We embark on project economic evaluation to guide capital allocation decisions, in which projects with high risk-adjusted returns are prioritized for funding.

How are ESG commitments, especially host community engagement, being embedded into operations and tracked for international investors?

NewcrossEP has integrated ESG KPIs into corporate performance metrics evaluation, covering emissions reduction, local content participation, and community impact. Host community engagement has been formalised through PIA-compliant Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), ensuring transparency, shared accountability, and measurable outcomes.

NewcrossEP was one of the first indigenous operators to comply with the PIA mandate to establish Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) Fund across our asset. The success of this initiative leveraged upon the already existing strong partnership we had with our various host communities. This is evident in the fact that we have recorded zero incidence of community interference in our operations. We continue to prioritize our relationship with our communities and ensure equitable distribution of opportunities and benefits

On the environmental front, NewcrossEP is actively implementing a flare-out project to capture low-pressure associated gas, supported by the installation of booster compressors and a robust plan for the Awoba Non-Associated Gas (NAG) development. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to emissions reduction, energy efficiency, and long-term gas monetisation.

Our reporting frameworks align with International Financial Reporting Standard S2 (IFRS S2) and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) standards, ensuring that our ESG disclosures meet the expectations of international investors and stakeholders seeking transparency and sustainability performance assurance.

Looking beyond 2025, what should the industry expect in terms of sustainable growth, new field developments, or regional diversification for Newcross EP and Pan Ocean?

Beyond 2025, the focus is on sustainable growth through Awoba NW field development, infill drilling, STOG opportunities, and gas commercialisation.

With the recent trend of divestments and the directive of the Federal Government to increase production by 1mmbopd, NewcrossEP and Pan Ocean are positioning itself to be a key player within the Nigeria energy space. In 2025, we commenced our drilling campaign across all our operated assets with the objective of achieving 100,000 bopd within the next 5 – 7 years. In addition, we are prioritising a complete flare out across all facilities to comply with global net zero standards. We recognise the critical role natural gas plays in the global energy mix and will be making considerable investment in gas development and commercialization opportunities.

We are continuing our drilling campaign across the assets, to ensure we increase our revenue generation capacity, which will enhance our ability to finance energy investment diversification program.

How are host community agreements evolving in light of PIA requirements?

Post-PIA, NewcrossEP has transitioned from ad-hoc community MoUs to structured HCDTs, giving communities ownership and management roles in development priorities. This shift enhances transparency, reduces conflict, and aligns community initiatives with operational planning. The company has also institutionalized stakeholder reviews to ensure commitments are met and value delivery is visible.

Our post-PIA HCDT implementations include:Prompt implementation of HCDT projects; HCDTs are adequately funded and Effective sensitization of OML 24 rig impacted host to ensure zero disruption to rig activities.

The advent of the PIA and the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) has changed the dynamics of the relationship between Operator and Community. The community are now greater empowered to drive their social and economic aspirations and meet the critical needs of the indigenes. With the HCDT, it ensures that there is a equitable distribution of opportunities and benefits, which means a more harmonious operating environment.

All the HCDTFs have been set up and are being funded.

In a volatile oil and gas market, how do you prioritise short-term gains versus long-term asset sustainability?

At NewcrossEP we operate a balanced portfolio philosophy-targeting short-term production optimization while reinvesting part of the incremental cash flow on long-term projects.

Each intervention is assessed through both NPV and Sustainability Potential, ensuring that production gains do not compromise reservoir dynamics, or long term ESG goals.

Oil and gas industry is prone to significant volatility. As an organization, we are constantly analysing market forces and trends and weighing this against the impact on our long-term objectives. Short-term gains are only prioritized where value can be generated in a safe and sustainable manner, with no impact on our operating environment.

We employ strategies around project prioritization, dynamic strategic management, and flexible budgeting to ensure that the projects, activities, and programs align with changing business priorities and external business environments.

How do you see Nigeria’s upstream sector evolving over the next decade, and what does that mean for Newcross EP?

The next decade is very strategic in Nigeria’s energy transition journey. Nigeria’s upstream will evolve towards more efficient, indigenous-led operations focused on oil and gas development, decarbonization and digital transformation. For NewcrossEP, this represents an opportunity to lead the transition-leveraging its agility, Well Reservoir and Facility Management (WRFM) best practices, and data-driven asset management to unlock potential while advancing cleaner energy solutions. Strategic alignment with government gas policies and carbon initiatives will also secure our position in a changing energy landscape.

With recent trends in the industry which include the privatization of NNPC, Federal Government 1mmbopd initiative, and divestments by IOCs, Nigeria upstream sector is undergoing a transformational phase which will yield greater dividends for the Country as a whole. There is a renewed focus to pursue new frontiers, gas monetization, and renewables. This translates to a positive outlook for the upstream sector and ensure that there is an enabling environment for NewcrossEP to derive value and grow.

The industry reform through the PIA has opened a lot of opportunities and prospects for the industry in terms of regulatory certainty, governance effectiveness, strategic deregulation, and fiscal incentives, which are enablers for investments. Nigeria has a lot of oil and gas reserves, which when invested in can unlock more value for the country. NewcrossEP is positioning itself for a long play in the sector, as one of the leading local oil producers.

The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) has commenced routine maintenance at its 430-megawatt Geregu Power Plant in Kogi State, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency and improve electricity generation capacity.

The inspection, being undertaken by the plant’s Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Siemens Energy, is expected to last about four weeks.

Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment of the ongoing work on Friday, Jennifer Adighije, the managing director/chief executive officer of NDPHC said the exercise would significantly enhance the plant’s performance and reliability.

According to her, the scheduled maintenance underscores NDPHC’s commitment to sustaining optimal generation capacity and meeting its power supply obligations to the national grid.

Adighije reaffirmed the company’s support for President Bola Tinubu’s goal of achieving universal access to electricity across Nigeria.

‘We are here to participate and offer our full support to the Siemens team, who are onsite to carry out an extended minor inspection. Geregu has three Siemens turbine units with a combined installed capacity of about 430 megawatts.

This is a planned outage, and the Siemens team has proactively mobilised to conduct extended minor inspections, alignment checks, and other related works to ensure the units operate optimally. This also serves as a prelude to the major inspections we are planning in the near future,’ she stated. The NDPHC CEO emphasised that the company remains committed to strong operations and maintenance practices to ensure the reliability of the Federation’s critical power assets.

‘We are on top of things to ensure these units continue to operate efficiently. This will enable us to inject reliable, quality power into the national grid in line with President Tinubu’s vision for universal electricity access, powering homes, industries, and supporting national development,’ she added.

Adighije further noted that scheduled maintenance is key to ensuring operational efficiency and optimal asset utilisation, which will, in turn, boost the company’s revenue performance.

‘We want to be able to evacuate and commercialise all the electricity we generate to the grid,’ she emphasised.

Also speaking, Abdullahi Kassim, the executive director, generation, NDPHC, explained that while a minor inspection typically lasts about three weeks, the company has allocated four weeks to accommodate any unforeseen circumstances.

‘From what we have seen, the condition of the machines is good. They are within the tolerance limits of operation, and we hope to complete the work within the scheduled time,’ he said.

The Ondo State Government, on Monday, said it has uncovered what it described as a politically motivated attempt to discredit the ongoing O’Datiwa mass metering scheme, handled by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, through the circulation of false allegations by a faceless group.

A statement made available to journalists by the Information Officer of the Ministry, Debbie Funmilayo, dismissed the claims as ‘malicious, mischievous, and sponsored by desperate political actors ahead of the forthcoming general elections.’

According to the Ministry, the so-called Ondo Integrity Group (OIG) behind the allegations is ‘a fake and unregistered entity, assembled by disgruntled politicians to discredit a performing Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Johnson Alabi and tarnish the image of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s administration.’

‘Intelligence available to us confirms that certain political actors have sponsored online blogs and paid media platforms to circulate fabricated stories designed to create confusion and weaken public confidence,’ the statement said.

Recall that a group, Ondo Integrity Group (OIG), recently claimed that funds for the O’Datiwa Mass Metering Scheme were being diverted to private accounts.

But the state government said the O’Datiwa meter project remains one of the most transparent and people-centred energy reforms introduced by the administration of Governor Aiyedatiwa.

The statement said further, ‘It explained that all financial transactions under the scheme are handled through a designated state-controlled account domiciled in JAIZ Bank, as well as accredited online payment platforms approved by the Ondo State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (OSERB).

‘The false claim that payments were directed into private accounts is mischievous and therefore misleading.

‘The government further clarified that the metering scheme allows private participation through Meter Asset Providers (MAPs), who operate independently in line with regulatory approval. As at the last count, about ten accredited MAPs are legitimately operating within the State.

‘Each MAP, being a private and commercial entity, has its independent financial accountability separate from the Ondo State Power Company Limited (OSPC).’

The statement, however, emphasised that the O’Datiwa meter is currently ‘the cheapest in Nigeria,’ with prices approved by OSERB to ensure fairness and transparency.