Ossiomo Caught in Energy Politics, as Edo Govt Disowns 5% Shares

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By Reporter

About two weeks now, some parts of Benin City, including Government House have been in blackout. The areas affected were mostly those served by Ossiomo Power Company, the Independent Power Project midwived by the last administration of Mr. Godwin Obaseki.

Signs of bleak future for Ossiomo emerged shortly after the exit of Obaseki of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who made Edo State the company’s biggest customer.

Ossiomo’s supply gradually became epileptic right from the inception of the present administration, even before the present near zero supply of electricity to their customers.

Edo State Government was not been speared as streetlights, government buildings were thrown into darkness since September 1, 2025.

Checks by Midwest Herald showed that the latest blackout is as a result of ownership fight for Ossiomo Power plant in Ologbo, located in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government, between Ossiomo Power and Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC) — the Chinese partners.

The gas fired 95MW Ossiomo Power Plant was completed in 2020 by the last administration and was celebrated as one of the success stories of the private sector intervention in Nigeria’s failed power sector reform.

Investigation revealed that Ossiomo ran into trouble water soon after it lost the patronage of Edo State Government which led to the inability of the company to fulfil financial obligations which led to their failure to guarantee supply to customers.

With this uncertainty, CCETC is now attempting to take over ownership of the firm to guarantee their investment, but the core investors—including Edo State, reported to own 5% share rebuffed CCETC.

In a surprise move, however, the Director General of Edo State Electrification Agency, Omozokpea Egbadon, has distanced Edo State Government from the abrupt collapse of Ossiomo, reportedly saying, “goverment had no knowledge or involvement in the decision to shut down Ossiomo Power Plant.”

He explained that the state government had decided to reconnect to Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

But management of Ossiomo Power said CCETC were not co-owners of the power firm, but a contractor engaged to execute the contract to construct the plant in 2018, for the supply and installation of engines for the Independent Power Project (IPP).

Expectedly, the Chinese firm CCETC has refused to speak with the press on their ownership claim of the plant which was partly constructed with EdonState government resources.
But the Deputy General Manager, of Ossiomo, Engr. Francis Ekwe, an in a report, has insisted that Ossiomo Power remained sole owner of the power generating plant, the transmission network, and associated gas infrastructure tied to the project at Ologbo, Edo State.

Ekwe added that Ossiomo Power held exclusive rights to the gas infrastructure and power facilities since 2008 and backed by statutory licences as well as approvals for power generation and transmission within Edo State.

He stressed that recent moves by CCETC to assert ownership was aimed at influencing state authorities and to create “uncertainty around the operations of Ossiomo Power.”

He therefore warned that, “…any attempt to sideline an indigenous operator in favour of a foreign contractor could undermine Nigeria’s local content policy and pose risks to energy security in Edo State.”

Five years ago, Edo State Government entered a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) of 55MW with Ossiomo Power and CCETC Clean Energy (CCETC-Ossiomo Power) to boost electricity market in the state. Part of the agreement was to guarantee steady power supply to government institutions and private industries to boost commerce in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted a Director of CCETC -Ossiomo Power Plant in 2019, Dr. Uwa Igiehon, that the power plant was a joint venture between a Chinese Company, CCETC Clean Energy and Ossiomo Power Company to build the 55 Megawatts plant in the state.

On its website, the company wrote: “Ossiomo IPP Project is 100% Privately owned and funded by the Ossiomo Group.

“The Sponsors comprise Edo professionals with international investment banking, engineering and legal backgrounds.

“With decades of experience in developing and successfully completing projects in numerous global jurisdictions including – the UK, US, Canada, Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Russia, Spain.

“It is this experience that has been brought to bear in the design, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the Ossiomo IPP Project.”

This being so, what is logical, according to stakeholders, is for Edo State Government to demand for her share of the company—especially the take off grants, lands, travels and the guarantees that were provided.

The claim by the Director General, Edo State Electrification Agency that government is not aware of any 5% shares allocated to her, may have shut the state out of the humongous investment.