VP Osinbajo Commissions NDPHC NIPP LOT 7 Awka 120MVA 132/33kV Sub-Station, Anambra State On 24/08/2021

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REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AND CHAIRMAN, NDPHC BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT THE OFFICIAL COMMISSIONING OF THE NEW NDPHC NIPP LOT 7 AWKA 120MVA 132/33kV SUBSTATION IN ANAMBRA STATE ON TUESDAY AUGUST 24, 2021

PROTOCOLS

I want to start this address by commending the excellent work that His Excellency, the Governor of Anambra State, Governor Willie Obiano has done in driving economic development in this State. I want to make this point because the economy of Nigeria largely depends on the efforts that are made at the sub-national level (that is at the state level), it is the aggregation of the good work that is done in the States that adds up to the great economy that we hope and that we are working for.

Anambra State’s revenue has increased from N10.45bn in 2014 to N26.37bn as of 2019 and this is almost a 152.2% increase in the State’s Internally Generated Revenue. I am not sure what the current figures are but if the figures of the last year are anything to go by, then we would have seen a significant increase.

The enabling environment and ease of doing business measures that have been implemented in Anambra State have seen it become one of the fastest-growing manufacturing hubs in the Country – Nnewi, which houses key local manufacturing companies including Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing, Tummy Tummy Industries, Chicason Group, among many others. It is evidence of the entrepreneurial ability of the Nigerian people and the drive that is possible. But also importantly, the enabling environment that States can create and what we have seen here today is evidence of that.

We are coming from Ogbunike where we launched a Shoemaking Shared Facility which has very good, state-of-the-art equipment for shoemaking, and this is a joint effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria and Anambra State, to make it easier for the shoemaking ecosystem in Ogbunike to be able to manufacture shoes, not just good quality shoes, but really high volume.

Today we have been able to launch that, and I think that it is important to continue to emphasize that the way that the economy will develop is through small businesses powered by States and assisted as much as possible by the Federal Government.

But this is all the more impressive, considering the fact that a lot of the economic progress that we have seen in this State is despite the limitations on the electricity supply in the State. Following the creation of Anambra State in August 1991, industrial as well as commercial activities grew significantly and quickly overwhelmed the existing electricity supply arrangements to Awka in particular, which was then the new Anambra State capital. So, this led to the eventual installation of a one-unit 40MVA 132/33kV Mobile Transformer Substation, erected by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in Awka.

In recognition of the deficit in wheeling capacity in the State, the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) through the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) committed to undertake an upgrade of the transmission infrastructure in Awka by constructing a new 132/33kV Substation, equipped with two 60MVA transformers.

This project was energized and achieved technical commissioning (as you have heard from the Managing Director) at about 4.30pm on Thursday 26th November 2020. Since then, this new substation has been in service providing 33kV evacuation capacity for at least 100MW, through its two units of 60MVA (total 120MVA). We are talking about the 132/33kV Transformers for the whole of Awka and the environs of the EEDC distribution network.

The commitment of the administration to ensuring the completion of this Awka NIPP 132kV Grid Substation now provides a hitherto unavailable 70MW additional power capacity for driving industrial growth and boosting the economy of the State, with positive knock-on effects on employment and socio-economic upliftment for residents of the state.

As you have heard, this is not just for commerce, it is also connected to the new ultra-modern airport at Umueri. So, we are looking here at a substantial addition not just to power capacity but more importantly, at the capacity of the residents of this State, and businesses in this State to be more effective in business.

So, it is really my very special pleasure today to join you in congratulating the Governor and all of the people of this State, and also to thank the NDPHC for the great work that they have done.

In the next few minutes, we will be commissioning, officially, the new Awka 120MVA, 132/33kV Substation in Anambra State.

Again, I want to commend all of those who have done the great work that has led to this particular day, where we are able to do this commissioning. And to assure you of the partnership of the Federal Government in doing all that we can do to ensure that our people have the perfect environment for doing business.

Thank you very much, and may God bless Anambra State, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.