By Gabriel Elozino, Asaba
The Delta state government has approved to lease out the controversial Independent Power Plant (IPP) in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government area of the state to an Independent Power Generating Company.
The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu disclosed this, Thursday, during a press briefing shortly after the first State Executive Council (SEC) meeting for the year 2022, presided over by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in the state Government House, Asaba.
Recalled that the project was awarded during the administration of former governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan at a cost of about N25 billion to Davnuch Company owned by former Speaker of the state, Engr. Victor Ochie and which the state 6th Assembly probed. A probe that never saw the light of the day.
According to Aniagwu, “council gave approval for a programme that would enable the IPP come on stream by bringing in Independent Power Generating Companies under lease to own it.”
He noted that, the state government took the measure because it does not want to engage in outright sale of the power facility where the state may be short-changed.
“We have some turbines and equipment that they (the power generating companies) need to buy. We will bring them in and they will pay us some money from the beginning to some time and they will own the plant thereafter,” he said.
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The Commissioner also disclosed that the state government has approved an upward review of contract cost of Ayakoromo Bridge project from N6 billion to N10.5 billion.
Aniagwu explained that the contract for the construction of the bridge which was awarded in 2013 had to be reviewed as a result of present economic realities in the country.
He said that the project was priority to the present administration in the state, adding that it was expected to be completed and inaugurated within the next 15 months.
“The Ayakoromo bridge also came up today and the Exco has approved an upward review of that contract which was awarded in 2013 at the initial cost of about N6 billion.
On his part, the Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Chief Arthur Akpovwowo, said approval was given for the transfer of the Department of Town Planning and Urban Development Board from Ministry of Lands to the Ministry of Urban Renewal.
Akpovwowo disclosed that approval had been given for the ministry to work at Ekuku-Agbor in Ika South, Ovu in Ethiope East and Akugbene in Bomadi Local Government Areas, and assured that the ministry would ensure that illegal activities in town planning and development were put to a halt.
He sued for the support of all in correcting the ills bedevilling town planning and development in the state.
