By Oye Chukwujekwu, Asaba
Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that the multi-billion naira Independent Power Plant (IPP) project in Oghara would gulp N20 billion before it could come on stream.
The governor, who had a town hall meeting with the people of Ethiope West and Sapele local government areas in Oghara and Sapele, respectively, stated that adequate power supply was required to boost the socio-economic life of the people.
Specifically, at Oghara where the former Governor of the state, Chief James Ibori, led cream of politicians to attend the meeting, Okowa disclosed that with the economic realities of the country, it would be difficult for the state to solely sponsor the IPP project.
“We have to study the project. If I tell you that it will be functional during my administration, I will be telling you lies; a lot has been done, but, we have done the calculation, but it is obvious that we cannot execute the project as a state for now because the project will gulp over N20 billion.
“There are two options, either we enter into private partnership with the private sector or to outrightly, sell the IPP to the private sector so that it can make the project functional, so as to create jobs for our people and other benefits derivable,” he said.
The governor also clarified issues on funding in the state, asserting that with the country, officially in recession, revenue to the Federal Government and other tiers of government were affected.
