Goli Innocent
Lagos — The Niger Delta Power Holding Company has moved to provide dedicated electricity to the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park in Odukpani, Cross River State, in a major boost for Nigeria’s industrialisation drive and local content agenda.
The company said it had advanced discussions with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to supply 10 megawatts of electricity to the industrial park from its Calabar Generation Company. The arrangement is expected to deliver stable and reliable power to businesses that will operate within the facility.
The project, which began with an Expression of Interest submitted in 2025, has now entered a critical stage following a high-level engagement between both parties in February 2026. That meeting laid the groundwork for execution and eventual delivery.
For Nigeria’s manufacturing sector, reliable electricity remains one of the biggest obstacles to growth. Data from the World Bank shows that power shortages cost Nigerian businesses billions of naira yearly through lost production, higher operating costs and dependence on self-generation.
The Odukpani Oil and Gas Park is designed to serve as a strategic industrial hub for downstream petroleum and gas operations. It will support the production, processing and distribution of refined petroleum products, while also encouraging local manufacturing of equipment, spare parts and other critical components used in the oil and gas industry.
Industry stakeholders say the dedicated power supply will significantly improve the park’s viability. By guaranteeing steady electricity, the facility is expected to attract investors, lower production costs and deepen indigenous participation across the oil and gas value chain.
The economic impact could also be substantial. Beyond supporting large-scale industrial operations, the project is expected to create jobs, stimulate small and medium-sized enterprises and strengthen Cross River State’s position as an emerging industrial and energy hub.
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader goal of expanding productive energy use, boosting local manufacturing and reducing dependence on imported oil and gas equipment. It also supports the Federal Government’s push to increase value addition within the domestic energy sector.
If successfully delivered, the partnership between NDPHC and the NCDMB could become a template for linking power infrastructure directly to industrial clusters across the country, a model many experts believe is essential for sustainable economic growth.
For Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, the message is clear: industrial growth cannot happen without reliable electricity. The Odukpani project is a practical step towards closing that gap.
