The House of Representatives Committee on Power has directed the contractor handling the upgrade of the Alaoji Power Plant to provide daily updates on the progress of the project as part of efforts to ensure strict monitoring and timely completion.
The directive was issued during an oversight visit by members of the committee to the power plant, where lawmakers assessed ongoing work on the conversion of the facility from open-cycle to combined-cycle operations.
The oversight delegation, led by the Chairman of the House Committee on Power, Victor Nwokolo, inspected various sections of the plant and received a detailed briefing from the management of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company on the status of the upgrade project.
According to the lawmakers, the contractor must submit daily reports to the management of NDPHC to enable closer monitoring of activities on site and improve coordination among stakeholders involved in the project.
The committee noted that regular updates would also help in quickly identifying and addressing operational or technical challenges that could slow down the pace of work.
Members of the panel emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum on the project, stressing that the upgrade of the plant was critical to improving power generation and strengthening electricity supply to the national grid.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDPHC, Jennifer Adighije, told the lawmakers that the company remained committed to ensuring the successful delivery of the project within the stipulated timeframe.
She explained that the conversion of the plant to a combined-cycle system would significantly improve operational efficiency and increase electricity output by utilising exhaust heat from the gas turbines to generate additional power through steam turbines.
Adighije added that the company would continue to provide the necessary technical and operational support to the engineering, procurement and construction contractor to ensure smooth execution of the project.
She also highlighted the strategic importance of the Alaoji Power Plant within Nigeria’s electricity generation landscape, noting that the upgrade would optimise gas utilisation and contribute additional electricity to the national grid.
Following the inspection and briefing, members of the committee expressed satisfaction with the information provided by the NDPHC management and the progress recorded so far on the project.
The lawmakers reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure, noting that reliable power supply remained essential for economic growth, industrial development and improved living standards.
The Alaoji Power Plant is one of the major generation facilities under the National Integrated Power Project, a Federal Government initiative established to expand electricity generation and transmission capacity across the country.
When fully converted to combined-cycle operations, the plant is expected to generate additional megawatts of electricity by maximising the energy potential of the installed gas turbines.
