Cross River wants ownership of Odukpani Power Plant, as Otu woos investors
The Cross River State Government is in talks with the Federal Government to take over the 634 megawatts gas turbine power plant in Odukpani Local Government Area.
Otu told diplomats, and development partners in Abuja on Tuesday that leveraging on the recently signed Electricity Law, “We are negotiating with the federal government to take over the over 600 megawatts power plant located at Ikot Nyong in Odukpani Local Government Area in the state.
A statement signed by his spokesman, Mr. Nsa Gill quoted the Governor as saying, “It will establish our energy efficiency for development,” adding, “besides, there is a state-owned 33- megawatts power plant in the northern part of the state, and in the next six months, the state will draw gas pipeline supply to the plant.”
It is unclear where the 33 megawatts plant is in northern Cross River. However, the State commissioned a 3 megawatts plant in Obudu and has a 21 megawatts plant in Calabar and a 26 megawatts plant under construction at the Tinapa Business and Leisure resort.
Recall, the Federal Government had in 2017, said it has completed plans to sell the power plant in Odukpani which is part of the National Integrated Power Project and part of the 2013 privatization plan. Owned by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, the 634 megawatts plant has several States and other entities as shareholders.
Otu said this was a pointer to his administration’s commitment to ensuring energy security and promoting policies that would strengthen the institutions of government.
“We are committed to revolutionizing the state agriculture sector. We have recently completed the soil mapping of the entire state. So, potential investors in that area can operate with informed data on the soil type and arability for cultivation,” the statement quoted him.
Again, Otu met with diplomatic community and development partners in a gathering, code named “Executive Governor’s Roundtable,” was, “Building Cooperation for a Better Today and a Resilient Future,” which according to the Governor is the first in a series of engagements to build strong collaborative ties with the diplomatic community and development partners towards a mutually beneficial long-term relationship.
Otu who disclosed that the State has, “completely keyed into the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aligning it with our administration’s People’s First Agenda,” also disclosed that the sectors for collaboration include infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
Others are social development and humanitarian services, agribusiness, commerce and industry. Also, manufacturing, solid minerals, oil and gas, tourism, and hospitality make the list.
Furthermore, the Governor commended the attendees for honoring the invitations and thereafter committed himself to boardroom meetings where teams from Israel, Canada, India, Brazil, NEXIM Bank, UNIDO, USAID met with him and discussed concrete terms of collaborations and partnerships.
The Governor’s audience included the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, James Christoff; the Belgium Ambassador, Pieter Leenknegt; the French Deputy Chief of Mission, Mr Jean-Francois Hasperue; and the Indian High Commissioner, Shri G. Balasubramanian.
Other attendees were, the Israeli Ambassador in Nigeria, Michael Freeman; the Minister Counselor and Deputy Head of Mission of the Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria, Ms Kristin Waeringsaase; development partners’ representatives as well as Federal and State Government functionaries.
Two Senators, Jarigbe Agom (Cross River North, PDP) and Eteng Jonah (Cross River Central, APC) and federal lawmaker, Hon. Victor Abang (Ikom/Boki Federal constituency, APC) were also present.
There were also two presentations during the Roundtable on “Cross River State Development Proposition and Roadmap” by Dr. Bong Duke, the Executive Vice Chairman of the State Planning Commission.
A presentation on “PPP Opportunities: Framework and Institutional Arrangements” was also made by Dr. Francis Ntamu, the Director-General of Cross River State Bureau for Public Private Partnerships.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
