Call Mounts For Delta To Revive Power Sector, Emulate Bayelsa’s Independent Power Push

By Our Reporter

The Delta State Government has been urged to take decisive steps toward improving electricity supply by drawing lessons from neighbouring Bayelsa State, where Governor Douye Diri recently commissioned a 60-megawatt gas turbine plant aimed at boosting power generation and distribution across the state.

The call was made by Comrade (Ambassador) Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, National Coordinator of the Initiative For Social Rights Concerns And Advancements (ISRCA), who stressed the need for Delta to prioritize similar initiatives under the leadership of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

Agberen expressed concern over the state of power infrastructure in Delta State, noting that key projects such as the Oghara Independent Power Plant have remained largely dormant, while facilities like Sapele Power Plc continue to face operational and distribution challenges.

He questioned whether the prolonged setbacks, despite significant financial investments, may have contributed to limited productivity growth in the state.

He further referenced the electricity sector reforms introduced following the signing of the Electricity Amendment Bill by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2024, which empowered states to regulate electricity generation, transmission, and distribution within their jurisdictions.

According to him, while several states have leveraged the opportunity, Delta has yet to make substantial progress despite its resource advantage.

Agberen urged the state government to embark on comprehensive reforms, including restructuring the electricity market, reactivating idle turbines, and developing compressed natural gas (CNG) infrastructure to strengthen supply. He added that such measures would ensure that residents benefit directly from governance through improved access to power.

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He also called for a more strategic implementation of the state’s “Light-Up Delta” industrialisation initiative, emphasizing the need to close distribution gaps and utilize the state’s abundant gas resources for independent power projects targeted at local communities.

Highlighting the state’s potential, Agberen noted that Delta boasts over 3,000 megawatts of installed capacity from major plants such as Okpai, Ughelli, and Sapele, yet many residents still lack reliable electricity. He advocated for the construction of additional gas turbines and the rehabilitation of inactive units to inject at least 120 megawatts into the grid, potentially raising output at Sapele to over 1,020 megawatts.

He concluded by urging authorities to move beyond policy discussions and public pronouncements, and instead focus on concrete actions that will deliver stable electricity and tangible economic benefits to the people.