Sambo commissions 330KVA power plant in Benue

VICE President Namadi Sambo has commissioned the 330kva power generating plant in Apir, Makurdi, Benue State with the charge on the people to provide security for the project.

Speaking shortly before the inauguration of the project the Vice President said the plant, which is one of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) of the Federal Government, executed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, to turn around the boost power supply to the state.

He also intimated that the NDPHC has been effectively pursuing its mandate of implementing its robust power projects across the country under the NIPP with the one in Benue being part of it.

Vice President Sambo revealed that the company under its first phase of projects has completed thermal generating plants and completed a total of 265 out of 296 distribution injection substations located nationwide as well as several other power stations across the country.

“Today we are proud that the NDPHC has completed 3,000 km transmission lines nation wide. At present the nations power generation stand at 5,500 mega wax of which NIPP contributes 2600 mega wax, a record that stands out power sector generation in the country’s history,” Sambo noted.

He added that under the Phase Two mandate, the NDPHC is vigorously pursuing the hydro-power generation plant mainly in the northern axis of the country ensure a mix grid distribution.

Benue Governor Gabriel Suswam noted that since the creation of the state in 1976, it remains the only state that is not linked to the national grid expressing happiness that with the commissioning of the plant, that has becomes a thing of the past.

Suswam maintained that the 330 KVA plant will in no small measure augment the power supply of the state and urged the business community as well as individual homes to make best uses of the facility.

The governor, who commended the Federal Government for making sure that the project be sited in the state; thanked God that he was part of the success story and urged indigenes of Benue to guard the facility against vandals.
The Guardian reports that construction of the power plant commenced in 2010, completed last year and handed over to the Transmission Company of Nigeria for operation.