The House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations has praised the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) for maintaining high safety standards at the Calabar Power Plant in Odukpani, Cross River State.
The commendation came on Monday after members of the committee undertook an on-the-spot inspection of the 565MW plant.
The lawmakers noted significant improvements in compliance and worker welfare since their last visit to the facility in 2018.
Chairman of the committee, David Idris Zacharias, stated that the exercise was part of the National Assembly’s mandate to ensure that Nigerians work in safe environments and lead healthy lives.
“My impression here is positive, and you also heard the same from my honourable colleagues. We always appreciate it when we step into any organisation and see that they have done very well. The health and safety of workers in the power sector are critical to both government and the economy,” Zacharias said
He explained that while the visit recognised progress, it was also aimed at identifying areas requiring improvement.
“When we come to a place like this, we must observe areas that need attention. What we are saying here is to encourage them to deepen their commitment to safety issues. We went round and saw their challenges, which we will take back to the government. We are hopeful that by the time we return, some of the issues we observed would have been addressed,” he noted.
The committee specifically called for improvements in the work environment, including better lighting, rest areas for shift workers, and adequate seating in offices.
Other members of the delegation included Hon. Harrison Anozie Nwadike, Hon. Suleiman Abubakar Gumi, Hon. Kalejaiye Paul Adeboye, Hon. El-Rasheed Abdullahi, and Hon. Emmanuel Effiong Udo. The lawmakers were conducted around the facility by the Chief Operating Officer of the Calabar Power Plant, Engr. Ayoade Olanrewaju Bex, and described it as one of the best they had visited in terms of safety standards and compliance.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Executive Director, Generation, Abdullahi Kassim, the General Manager, Generation Projects at NDPHC, Valerie Agberagba, said the company placed the highest priority on safety and standards.
“The visit of the House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations was very important to us. It gave us the opportunity to assess where we are in terms of health, safety, and compliance with regulations and standards at our power plants,” she said.
Agberagba noted that the company had made marked progress since 2018, adding that when compared, the current report is an improvement from the 2018 version.
She said: “This shows that NDPHC is not taking issues of safety, regulations, and environmental standards for granted. We are working towards an environment that is safe for both our workers and the operation of the power plant.”
Agberagba acknowledged that further improvements were necessary, especially in staff welfare, “If staff are not in a good position to work, we are not going to get the best out of them. So those little observations have to do with good working conditions, and we will make sure that these things are taken into consideration in the shortest possible time.”
Acting Head of Health, Safety and Environment at NDPHC, Austin Ijagem, said the Calabar plant had not recorded any fatal work-related accidents since operations began.
Ijagem said: “The safety at the power plant has been top-notch. When the committee visited in 2018, there were a lot of pending issues and safety concerns. They have now acknowledged that the difference is clear. A lot of the safety concerns raised in 2018 have been closed out, meaning we are getting closer to zero pending issues.”
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