The member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon Ossai Nicolas Ossai has asked the house to urgently intervene in the electricity problem facing the entire Ndokwa land.
The lawmaker made the call at the floor of the house in Abuja, on Wednesday, 30 of September 2015, when he present a motion under Matter of urgent Public Importance: ORDER viii, RULE 46, titled: URGENT NEED TO PREVENT THE BREAKDOWN OF LAW AND ORDER ARISING FROM STEP DOWN OF ELECTRICITY IN NDOKWALAND.
The full text of the motion reads:
The House:
Notes the existence of a functional 480 megawatts Independent Powers Plant (IPP) operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) at Okpai in Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal constituency of Delta State which was commissioned in April 2005 by our former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who ordered the step down of the facility for the benefit of the Host Community and its environs.
Further notes the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA) for the facility stated in very unambiguous term that 50 megawatts of electricity would be stepped down for the benefit of Communities within 50 kilometer radius from the plant.
Agitated that inspite of the Presidential declaration during the commissioning and the provision for step down by the EIA, electricity has not been stepped down and the Communities wallow in darkness while the electricity generated is enjoyed by nine (9) States.
Disturbed that Okpai, the host Community is almost washed away by erosion as a result of the activities of the plant due to the inability of Agip, the operating company to respect the terms of the EIA reports which made provision for the shore embankment of the host Community.
Worried that since the failure of Nigerian Agip oil Company (NAOC) to heed to the Presidential declaration and respect the terms of the EIA report, Ndokwa leaders have sought all peaceful means to realize the step down of the electricity to the people to no avail including the visit to the Minister and the Permanent Secretary to the Federal Ministry of Power in September 2014 wherein approval for its step down was made and was marked to be included in the 2015 budget.
Further worried that the inability of Agip and Federal Government to step down the transformer to serve the people with electricity is generating a lot of tension in the land with the various youth bodies, including the Save Ndokwa Nation Group (SNNG), Ndokwa Youths Congress (NYC), Pages Group International (PGI), Ndokwa Neku Union (NNU) Youth Wing, and Federated Union of Ndokwa Students (FUNS) giving a 21 days ultimatum effective 27th of September, 2015 to start the process of the immediate step down of the transformer or they shut down the facility supplying electricity to nine States.
Concerned that the 21 days ultimatum given by these youths to shut down the facility if the transformer is not stepped down is capable of disrupting the peace in the land.
Recall that section 14(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) in clear terms states that “security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government” and section 11 (1) of the Constitution (as amended) also states that “the National Assembly shall make laws for the maintenance and securing of public safety and public order”
Resolves to:
1. Constitute an Ad-hoc Committee to look into the issue of stepping down the IPP by calling on the stakeholders including the youth bodies, Agip, Federal Government represented by NNPC to discuss the way forward before the expiration of the ultimatum and report back to the House within two (2) weeks.
2. Mandate Agip to commence the shore embankment of Okpai to avoid further devastation of the community by erosion.
3. Urge the Ministry of Finance to include the estimated cost of N13.6 billion needed for the step down in 2016 budget.
