ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Jennifer Adighije, has announced the company’s readiness to boost electricity supply to Lagos with an additional 1,500 megawatts.
Adighije made this known during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Temitope George, on Friday.
According to a statement on Sunday she disclosed that the company currently has about 2,000MW of stranded generation capacity that could help improve electricity supply in Lagos.
She explained that Lagos presently receives about 1,000MW from the national grid despite having an estimated electricity demand of nearly 12,000MW, leaving a significant supply shortfall.
Adighije stated that the Niger Delta Power Holding Company was prepared to help reduce the deficit through increased power generation and investments in transmission and distribution infrastructure.
“Our mandate is fundamentally to scale up power generation alongside the associated transmission and distribution networks. We are uniquely positioned in the power sector because our operations cut across the entire electricity value chain, from gas to generation, transmission, and distribution,” she said.
She further noted that NDPHC has played a key role in power sector reforms and infrastructure expansion over the years and remains strategically positioned to collaborate with LASERC in widening electricity access across Lagos State.
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“It is widely known that NDPHC owns the largest power generation assets in sub-Saharan Africa. We have an installed generation capacity of about 4,000MW, but regrettably, we are only able to dispatch between 400MW and 500MW daily. This clearly shows that we have significant stranded capacity,” she stated.
Adighije added that findings from the recently released Lagos Electricity Market Report revealed a major energy demand gap in the state, which the company is eager to help close.
“This is the role we want to play. That is why we are engaging with LASERC to support the scaling and acceleration of distributed access to electricity in Lagos State,” she said.
Describing Lagos as a commercially attractive electricity market, the NDPHC boss said the company was ready to channel major investments into the state’s power infrastructure.
“The Lagos electricity market is very lucrative and dynamic. This is a market where we are willing to make huge investments. In the past, our investments were largely intervention-based, but now we are looking at a market where there is a clear path to investment recovery.
“We are keen to invest in transmission and distribution assets to ensure the delivery of reliable, affordable, and quality electricity to consumers,” she added.
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In response, Temitope George reaffirmed the Lagos State Government’s commitment to enhancing electricity supply across the state.
She praised NDPHC for its contributions to Nigeria’s power sector and expressed LASERC’s willingness to partner with the company.
“We are excited to receive NDPHC, one of the largest power generation companies in Nigeria. The company has already made significant investments in Lagos, and we recognise that there are still infrastructure gaps that must be addressed,” George said.
She also recalled that during LASERC’s maiden stakeholders’ engagement, the commission unveiled plans aimed at ensuring some franchise areas in Lagos enjoy uninterrupted 24-hour electricity supply.
“With the NDPHC Managing Director’s visit and the company’s willingness to partner with Lagos to provide power and invest in infrastructure, we are optimistic that residents will begin to experience improved and more reliable electricity supply in the future,” she added.