Shettima Reaffirms Federal Government’s Commitment to Power Sector Reforms as NDPHC Marks 20 Years of Impact

Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to deepening reforms in Nigeria’s power sector, as the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Speaking on Wednesday at the anniversary ceremony held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, the Vice President acknowledged NDPHC’s two decades of contribution to national development, describing the milestone as both a moment of reflection and a springboard for the future.

Shettima noted that the enactment of the Electricity Act 2023 represents a defining turning point for Nigeria’s power sector and for NDPHC in particular. According to him, the new legislation provides clearer legal authority, stronger institutional footing, and enhanced commercial credibility, positioning the company to compete, partner, and grow within a more open and dynamic energy market.

The Vice President, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of NDPHC, said the board views the 20-year milestone as an opportunity for institutional evolution—transitioning from an integration-driven entity to a commercially disciplined, market-focused enterprise—while remaining faithful to its national mandate.

He explained that the board’s priorities include extracting greater value from existing assets, strengthening contracts and market participation, ensuring governance-led commercialisation, managing risks responsibly, and investing in human capital.

“As Chairman, I wish to state unequivocally that the board remains fully committed to its responsibilities. We will continue to provide strategic direction, uphold the highest standards of governance, support management in taking sound and accountable decisions, protect shareholder value on behalf of the Nigerian people, and keep NDPHC aligned with national energy and development goals,” Shettima said.

The Vice President also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for restoring investor confidence in the power sector, describing his leadership as results-driven.

“At a time when the power sector required not just policy but results, Mr President has been a magician working not with illusion, but with discipline and reform. He has restored confidence in the sector and created the conditions for institutions such as NDPHC to thrive,” he added.

Earlier, the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, highlighted NDPHC’s critical role in Nigeria’s economy over the past two decades, describing the company as a key pillar in expanding and safeguarding the nation’s electricity generation capacity.

He noted that through the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), NDPHC has developed generation plants and supporting value-chain infrastructure across the country, creating one of the largest portfolios of government-backed power assets in Africa.

“Whether you work in the field restoring turbines, in control rooms ensuring dispatch, in procurement securing parts and services, or in offices shaping policy and stakeholder engagement, your contributions are evident in the plants operating today and the lives benefiting from improved electricity supply,” Adelabu said.

The minister disclosed that NDPHC has recently restored a total of 345 megawatts of generation capacity to the national grid, including 120MW from Omotosho NIPP, 112.5MW from Benin NIPP, and 112.5MW from Ihovbor NIPP.

He also drew attention to the company’s implementation of the Light Up Nigeria project, which aims to boost industrialisation by delivering reliable electricity to industrial clusters across the country.

“These achievements are part of the gains from the broader reforms under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to improve reliability, expand access, and attract investments in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” Adelabu said.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Dr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, commended the Managing Director of NDPHC, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, describing her performance as outstanding within the short period she has been in office.

“I was thrilled to see that we have a wonderful woman appointed into office who is performing exceptionally well. I came here to appreciate the Managing Director, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, for the remarkable work she has done,” Ekpo said.

He stressed that alignment with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda remains critical, noting that sustainable power supply is fundamental to national development.

“Without power, there can be no industrialisation, and our homes cannot function optimally. Listening to her presentation and the improvements that have taken place in the power sector, I am confident that Nigeria is headed in the right direction,” he added.

Ekpo also praised the leadership at the board level, saying, “I appreciate her and her team. This commendation also goes to the Vice-President, who is providing strong leadership at the board level.”

In her opening remarks, NDPHC Managing Director, Engr. Jennifer Adighije, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s energy infrastructure and supporting sustainable national development.

She revealed that beyond power generation, NDPHC has executed major projects across the transmission and distribution segments of the electricity value chain.

“In the transmission segment alone, we have added over 9,000 MVA of installed transformer capacity, rolled out transmission substations, line-bay extensions, and constructed hundreds of kilometres of transmission lines across the country,” she said.

Adighije added that under her leadership, NDPHC is adopting a customer-centric approach and leveraging the Electricity Act to deepen strategic collaborations with bilateral partners, eligible customers, regional partners under the West African Power Pool, and other market participants.

She further disclosed that with the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Power, NDPHC has approached the bond market under the power sector refinancing plan to raise capital aimed at defraying government indebtedness to power generation companies.

According to her, the initiative is expected to be a game changer for Nigeria’s power sector, strengthening liquidity, improving sustainability, and accelerating long-term growth.