Key points
- NDPHC says Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are improving power generation efficiency across its plants.
- The company has adopted AI-powered predictive maintenance to detect equipment faults before breakdowns occur.
- The technology has reduced forced outages, lowered maintenance costs and improved plant reliability.
- NDPHC says digital technologies will play a bigger role in tackling Nigeria’s electricity challenges.
Main story
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Jennifer Adighije, says Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are transforming operations across the company’s power generation plants.
Speaking after an engagement with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Adighije said the company has deployed AI-powered predictive maintenance systems that use real-time data, sensors and machine learning to detect equipment faults before they result in failures.
She explained that the shift from traditional preventive maintenance to predictive maintenance allows engineers to monitor the condition of equipment continuously instead of relying on fixed servicing schedules.
According to her, the technology has reduced forced outages, lowered maintenance costs and improved the efficiency and reliability of NDPHC’s power plants.
Adighije said AI has proved particularly valuable in monitoring gas-fired turbines, enabling operators to track fuel efficiency, vibration, temperature, component wear and overall turbine performance through real-time digital systems.
She added that the technology has improved plant availability, increased electricity generation efficiency and strengthened the reliability of power supply.
The NDPHC boss said AI, automation and digital analytics would become increasingly important in addressing long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector, including inadequate generation capacity, transmission constraints, technical losses and grid instability.
She noted that smart technologies could improve electricity demand forecasting, load balancing and power dispatch, while enhancing operational performance across the electricity value chain.
Adighije reaffirmed the company’s commitment to innovation, saying technology adoption would remain central to delivering efficient, reliable and sustainable electricity as demand continues to rise.
NDPHC was established under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP) and remains one of Nigeria’s largest power generation companies, with investments spanning generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The issues
Nigeria’s electricity sector continues to grapple with ageing infrastructure, grid instability and operational inefficiencies that contribute to frequent outages and unreliable power supply.
Power sector operators are increasingly turning to AI and digital technologies to improve asset management, reduce downtime and maximise the performance of existing infrastructure.
What’s being said
“We have moved beyond preventive maintenance to predictive maintenance.” — Jennifer Adighije, Managing Director and CEO, NDPHC
“With rising electricity demand and industrial growth, technology adoption is essential.” — Jennifer Adighije
“Stable and affordable electricity requires greater reliance on modern technological solutions.” — Jennifer Adighije
What’s next
NDPHC is expected to expand the use of AI, automation and digital analytics across its operations as the power sector increasingly embraces smart technologies to improve generation efficiency, grid stability and electricity reliability.
Bottom line
NDPHC believes AI and Machine Learning are becoming essential tools for improving power generation efficiency, reducing equipment failures and helping address some of Nigeria’s long-standing electricity challenges.
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