The release of the $8.58billion was between 2005 and 2018, which covered about 13 years (2005-2018) under Olusegun Obasanjo, late Umaru Yar’Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and even Muhammadu Buhari.
The cash backing had included $2.2billion from 2005- 2007; $600million in 2008; about $5.37b released from 2010/2011 to 2018; $150m-$200m made available to NNPC by CBN; and about $80million for Ibom Plant.
It was also learnt that the 25 per cent contribution by the Federal Government to Mambilla Hydro-Power Plant, amounting to about $1.8billion- $2billion, was not released, until President Muhammadu Buhari resolved the challenge.
According to a fact-sheet obtained by The Nation, the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) was conceived in 2005 with an original plan for the construction of seven medium size power plants in the Niger Delta.
The scope was later changed to 10 power plants. NDPHC was floated and given a private structure organ for effective delivery.
The document indicated that the projects were expected to cover 10 plants to generate 5,000 Megawatts of electricity; construction of more than 7,000 km (330KVA-132KV levels) transmission lines; 350 distribution projects and gas pipelines, among others.
The 10 power plants in the schedule were sited in Sapele; Ihovbor; Gbarain; Omoku; Egbema; Calabar; Geregu II; Omotosho II; Olorunsogo II; Alaoji.
The 11th project on the radar of the Federal Government was ALSCON Power Plant which was encumbered by a legal crisis, forcing the government to opt out.
The source said: “The records are there, the cash for the projects since 2005 (till date) amounted to about $8.58billion and not $16billion as being erroneously bandied...
“In fact, as at 2007, the then Accountant-General of the Federation had publicly announced that $2.2billion was released for the NIPP projects.
“As at the time the controversy over NIPP projects came up and the probe began, the amount released had risen to $2.8billion.
“About 25 per cent of the cash was mobilisation fees to the contractors in line with due process.
“The remaining 75 per cent was in letters of credit. The cash was not given to anybody but the money was set aside in the bank where those engaged in various projects can access the funds. This process was put in place to serve as a guarantee that Nigeria will not renege on the contracts.
“These firms drew from the funds whenever their projects reached certain threshold of completion. Everything was domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).”
“As at the time the probe started in 2008, only $2.8billion had been made available from the Excess Crude Account. It was glaring to all that the probe stalled all the power projects for about three years and since the contracts were all international, the nation must pay for the consequences..."
For Those Asking Obasanjo Where Is The Power:
On how many of the projects have been completed, the source said about six and half out of the 10 power plants – Sapele, Ihovbor, Geregu II, Olorunsogo II, Calabar, Omotoso – and a part of Gbarain had been completed.
“The remaining are Alaoji, Egbema, Omoku and a section of Gbarain (which is the smallest power plant in the country).
The fact-sheet on NDPHC website last night confirmed that “contracted commitments totaled US$7.385 billion of the over $8.58billion
“The NDPHC said: “In August 2005, the National Council of State and the National Assembly approved an initial funding of US$2.5 billion for NIPP from the “Excess Crude Oil Account” (ECOA) which statutorily belongs to the Federal, state and local governments. The Federal Government therefore incorporated Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) as a limited liability company to serve as the legal vehicle to hold the NIPP assets using private sector-oriented best business practices.
“Following the 2007 change in administration at the Federal level and in many states, the funding arrangements for NIPP were subjected to intensive legal, political and financial scrutiny, resulting in over two-year interruption in funding for the projects.
“At the time of the suspension, US$2.8 billion was already invested in NIPP, including US$1.78 billion in funded letters of credits which allowed some of the projects to continue despite the funding interruption. Contracted commitments totaled US$7.385 billion.
Also, the NDPHC claimed that many transmission lines and distribution projects had been completed and put to use.
It said: “The NIPP transmission projects were majorly awarded in 2006. These projects include transmission substations and lines. As at May 2016, the overall completed 330kV transmission line is 1336.9KM (against contracted 1634.4KM) representing 82% completion. Completed 132kV transmission line is 405.5KM (against contracted 719.3KM) representing 56% completion.
“In addition, the overall completed 330/132kV transmission substation capacity is 3810MVA (against contracted 6000MVA) representing 64% completion, while completed 132/33kV transmission substation capacity is 1920MVA (against contracted 3100MVA) representing 62% completion.
“The following transmission substations and lines have been completed and energized:
1x150MVA, 330/132kV Ihovbor substation (Lot 19-2A) – energised 11th March 2016
132kV Ihovbor substation line bay (Lot 19-1B) – energised 11th March 2016
132kV DC Ihovbor – Okada transmission line (Lot 19-4) – energised 11th March 2016
2x40MVA, 132/33kV Okada substation (Lot 19-1A) – energised 2nd April 2016
2x60MVA, 132/33kV Agbor substation (Lot 8-B) – energised 15th March 2016
On distribution, the NDPHC document said: “A total of 296 No. distribution projects grouped into 43 Lots spread throughout the country were awarded in February, 2007. Each of these projects included injection substations of varying capacities, ranging from 2.5 MVA through 7.5 MVA to 15 MVA, with associated 33 kV and 11kV distribution lines complete with CSP transformers to serve numerous customers across the country. Apart from the original scope, there have been a good number of distribution intervention projects across the country, totalling 72 to date, to meet peculiar needs...
“All those projects they said were awarded by Obasanjo, ex-Ministers Liyel Imoke, Segun Agagu and others followed due process and they were awarded by the Federal Executive Council. It was not as if funds were paid into the private accounts of anybody as being insinuated.”
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