On Friday, President Bola Tinubu instructed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to complete the 350 megawatts power project in the Federal Capital Territory within three years.
He made this directive during the Presidential Groundbreaking ceremony of the 350MW project, which serves as the initial phase of the larger 7,350MW Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant.
Tinubu emphasized the critical importance of the 350MW power plant for Nigeria’s economic development, considering it as his administration’s primary initiative to establish a robust power sector to drive the nation’s economy.
Tinubu stressed the importance of fulfilling a three-year project within the designated timeframe, expressing that Nigerians are closely observing and eagerly anticipating the fulfillment of all promises made.
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He conveyed this message to Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, during the event.
Furthermore, Tinubu directed various entities, including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, Transmission Company of Nigeria, and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, to collaborate with NNPCL to expedite the project’s completion.
The President assured Nigerians of the government’s commitment to enhancing their lives through these initiatives.
Tinubu emphasized that during his presidential campaign, he made a commitment to ensure stable electricity in Nigeria and pledged to eliminate all obstacles in power distribution.
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He further highlighted that his administration’s prompt initiation of the project demonstrates their resolute dedication to bringing positive changes for Nigerians.
Additionally, he stated that the government is determined to alleviate power-related challenges in the country.
The CEO of NNPCL mentioned that Nigeria possesses significant natural gas resources, with over 209 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves and a potential reserve of over 600 trillion cubic feet.
He emphasized that as a commercial enterprise, NNPC views the project as an opportunity to leverage the abundant natural gas resources and increase access to energy.
This move aims to support economic growth, promote industrialization, and create job opportunities across the country.
To achieve this national objective, NNPC has heavily invested in expanding domestic gas infrastructure. This includes the implementation of projects such as the Trans-Nigeria Pipeline Project, which encompasses the Escravos to Lagos Pipeline System, the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipeline, and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, as stated by Kyari.
According to him, the power project represents a milestone in NNPCL’s efforts to fulfill its gas and power mandate, aiming to contribute five gigawatts to the national power generation by 2024.
At present, NNPC and its partners are providing approximately 800MW of electricity to the national grid from Afam VI and Okpai Phase 1 thermal power plants, with a combined installed capacity of 1,100MW.
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Furthermore, the completion of the Okpai Phase 2 project is expected to add up to 320MW of power to the national grid, and progress is underway with other power plant initiatives across the country, including those located along the AKK pipeline route.
“The Gwagwalada Independent Power Plant (IPP) is one of NNPC’s prominent electricity initiatives situated along the AKK route. It contributes to the overall 3,600MW power generation capacity, which also encompasses Kaduna IPP (900MW) and Kano IPP (1,350MW), as mentioned by Kyari.
The endeavor involves partnership with General Electric as the original equipment provider, and China Machinery and Engineering Corporation, responsible for engineering, procurement, and construction.”
