From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the abandonment of the $38.7million Nigerian National Petroleum Company ( NNPC)- Nigerian Agip Oil Company ( NAOC) Independent Power Plant( IPP) project located in Okpai, Delta State.
Consequently, the House mandated its Committee on Power to undertake the probe. The committee is expected to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the project and report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative actions.
This followed the adoption of a motion by member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency of Delta State, Nnamdi Ezechi, calling on the parliament to investigate the abandonment of phase 2 of the IPP project.
Ezechi, in his motion, noted that the IPP project, which is a joint venture between the NNPCL and NAOC, located in Okpai in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State has been abandoned.
According to him, “despite the substantial investment of 38.7 million, Dollars and the commencement of Phase II construction in November 2017, the project ended up being abandoned, resulting in the dilapidation of the critical Federal infrastructure.”
The lawmaker added that ” the project site is in a grave state of decay, with billions of Dollars’ worth of equipment and turbines unused, covered by grass, and taken over by shrubs.
“The abandonment of the Phase II project jeopardizes significant investments and furthermore hampers increase in electricity generation for the nation.”
Ezechi expressed concern that “there is ambiguity surrounding the project’s contract amount, casting doubt on accountability and transparency in its execution.” Consequently, he stated that there is need for government to take action on the project.