NDPHC to build international standard classrooms for Akurba community

THE Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), has said that it would build an international standard classrooms block for Akurba community in Lafia local government council of Nasarawa state.

Project manager of the company, Engr. Abubakar Umar Modibbo disclosed this at the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Workshop of the Akurba 330/132KVA Substation Project in Lafia, said the NDPHC would construct an international standard classrooms block to Akurba community for given out their land for siting of substation and their mutual peaceful coexistence with the staff.

According to Modibbo, “the construction is part of NDPHC social responsibility of building classrooms block of international standard in every place they worked, and Akurba people would also enjoy the same.”

He further assured people of adequate power supply as soon as the construction of substation power is completed in the first quarter of next year, adding that the project is now 95 per cent completion and when commissioned Lafia and its environs will start enjoying 23-hour electricity.

“According to our work schedule, all major works at the substation will be completed by December 23, 2019.

“What will be left is the powering (Turn in – turn out) of the substation from the nearest transmission line.

“Our target is that by the end of the first quarter of 2020, the issue of insufficient power supply in Lafia and environs will be over,” he stated.

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The project manager added that NDPHC has installed nine transformers in the Lafia substation to convert the energy transmitted to it for onward transmission to consumers.

He also enumerated some benefits derivable by the state from the Akurba substation to include rapid growth in the socio-economic activities by way of attracting foreign investors who will, in turn, create jobs which will eventually change the standard of living of residents in the state.

The General Manager, Environment and Community Relations of NDPHC, Mr Eze Odigbo, said that the essence of the EIA was to ensure the environmental sustainability of the project.

Odigbo, who was represented by Mr Olajide Olubunmi, the deputy general manager said the scoping workshop was part of the EIA process where the host community and other stakeholders interface with the company to collectively assess the impact of the project.

He noted that the ultimate aim was to ensure the mitigation or elimination of negative impact arising from the project.

In his remark, Alh. Aliyu Ahmadu, District head of Akurba community, who spoke through the youth leader, Idris Mohammed commended the Federal Government for siting the project in their community.

According to him, the project aimed at industrialising the state is a clear demonstration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to develop the country.

He, however, appealed to the company to employ some of the youth who were engaged in the construction of the substation as permanent staff.