Delta Spends N23.6bn On IPP Project

Delta State  Government
says it has spent N23.6 billion on its Independent Power Plant (IPP) project located at Oghara in Ethiope West Local Government Area of the state.
The State’s Commissioner for Energy, Mrs Gloria Okologbo, announced this during the budget defence meeting with the State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation in Asaba recently.
She said a total of N23.6 billion had been spent on  the project by the state government, including the amount paid to the contracting firm and civil works on the project.
Okologbo said that the project, which was awarded in 2009 at a cost of N21.5 billion, was later reviewed upward to the tune of N23.6 billion.
The Commissioner said that civil works on the project were 70 per cent completed and that most of the equipment for the IPP project had been procured and awaiting installation.
According to her, the delay in the installation of the equipment is due to lack of access road to the project site.
“However, now that the road is completed, equipment will be moved to the site soon,” she said.
Okologbo appealed to the committee to appropriate more funds to the ministry for procurement of more transformers for communities in the state.
She also stressed the need to resuscitate public viewing centres in some parts of the state.
Responding, the chairman, Finance and Appropriation Committee, Mr Daniel Mayuku, expressed concern over the delay in the completion of the IPP project and advised that necessary steps should be taken to complete it.

Cross section of Permanent Secretaries singing at the funeral service in honour of Late Elder Margaret Brown Kosu, mother of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Rivers State, Ms Kadilo Brown in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA of Bayelsa State recently. With them is the Head of Service, Rivers State, Barr Samuel LongJohn (3rd right)