Reps laud NDPHC’s Safety Standards at Calabar Power Plant

By Joycelyn Ellakeche Adah

The House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations has commended the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) for maintaining high safety standards at its Calabar Power Plant in Odukpani, Cross River State.

Conducting an on-the-spot assessment of the 565MW facility, where lawmakers noted the significant improvements since their last visit in 2018.

Committee chairman Rep. David Idris Zacharias, said the inspection was part of efforts to ensure Nigerians work in safe environments.

“My impression here is positive, and you also heard the same from my honourable colleagues,” he told reporters, while stressing the importance of workplace safety in sustaining both the government and the economy.

The lawmakers, however, identified areas that needed attention, including better lighting, rest areas for shift workers, and improved office seats.

“We are hopeful that by the time we return, some of the issues we observed would have been addressed,” Zacharias added.

Other members of the delegation included Reps Harrison Anozie Nwadike, Suleiman Abubakar Gumi, Kalejaiye Paul Adeboye, El-Rasheed Abdullahi and Emmanuel Effiong Udo who were conducted around the facility by the Chief Operating Officer of the Plant, Engr. Ayoade Olanrewaju Bex.

Welcoming the lawmakers on behalf of NDPHC’s Executive Director (Generation), Engr. Abdullahi Kassim, the General Manager, Generation Projects, Engr. Valerie Agberagba, said safety remains a top priority for the company.

“When they compared the 2018 report to what they have now, there has been a great improvement in compliance. This shows NDPHC is not taking safety and environmental standards for granted,” she said.

She assured that the company would address staff welfare concerns raised by the committee, adding that “if workers are not in a good position to work, we are not going to get the best out of them.”

Also speaking, the Acting Head of Health, Safety and Environment at NDPHC, Austin Ijagem, noted that the Calabar Power Plant has not recorded any fatal work related accidents since operations began.

He said most of the safety concerns raised during the last inspection in 2018 had been resolved.