The Federal Government on Thursday summoned governors of the South-South zone including those of Imo and Abia to a meeting to address security challenges facing power projects in their domains.The Vice President, Alhaji Namadi Sambo, summoned the governors at the 21st Board Meeting of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.He said that the proposed meeting would also discuss issues relating to problems associated with the right of ways and the need for timely delivery of power projects in their respective states.Sambo frowned at the poor performance of contractors handling power transmission projects across the country.He warned that the contract of any company which could not reach 50 per cent completion by June would be terminated and given to another company that would deliver.The Vice President further directed the management of NDPHC to make a list of delinquent contractors and consultants, and sanction them if their projects were not completed by the end of the year.
He noted the current low supply in gas and urged the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr Austin Onivon and the Managing Director, National Gas Company of Nigeria to work with Chevron and all other oil companies to ensure availability of gas.Sambo said that this would enable government to meet the target of the programme for power delivery to the nation.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the board also approved some of the requests made by the management of NDPHC.The requests included the payment of ``P. B. Power/Jiyoda invoices’’ transferred by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to NDPHC in respect of project consultancy services for the construction of Alaoji Phase 1 power plant.The board also approved the Interim Operations and Maintenance Services for the 451MW Sapele Power Station in favour of Messrs Marubeni Corporation and Oloronsogo Power Station.It warned that it would no longer approve any new projects and that the NDPHC must concentrate on urgent delivery of existing contracts. (NAN)