Jennifer Adighije, Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), has highlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in enhancing operational efficiency, reliability, and power generation across the company’s electricity assets.
Speaking during an engagement with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Adighije said the deployment of advanced digital technologies is helping the company optimise plant performance, reduce equipment failures and improve electricity supply.
She disclosed that NDPHC has adopted AI-powered predictive maintenance systems that enable engineers to detect potential equipment failures before they occur, allowing timely interventions that minimise downtime and maintenance costs.
According to Adighije, the company has moved beyond conventional preventive maintenance to a more intelligent, data-driven maintenance model powered by artificial intelligence.
“We have moved beyond preventive maintenance to predictive maintenance,” she said.
She explained that while preventive maintenance depends on routine servicing at scheduled intervals, predictive maintenance relies on real-time data, sensor technology and machine learning algorithms to continuously monitor equipment health and accurately predict faults before they develop into major failures.
The technology allows plant operators to track critical parameters such as turbine performance, fuel efficiency, vibration levels, thermal behaviour and component wear, enabling faster and more informed operational decisions.
Adighije said the approach is significantly improving the reliability of NDPHC’s gas-fired power plants, reducing forced outages and enhancing overall plant availability.
She noted that the adoption of AI is helping the company increase generation efficiency while strengthening the reliability of electricity supplied to the national grid.
According to her, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, automation and digital analytics will play a critical role in addressing Nigeria’s long-standing power sector challenges, including inadequate generation capacity, transmission constraints, technical losses and grid instability.
Industry experts also believe AI-driven solutions can improve asset management, demand forecasting, load balancing and grid dispatch, creating a more resilient and efficient electricity system.
Adighije reaffirmed NDPHC’s commitment to innovation, describing technology adoption as essential to meeting Nigeria’s growing electricity demand and supporting the country’s industrialisation agenda.
She said intelligent digital systems are no longer optional but have become critical tools for delivering reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity.
“As Nigeria modernises its energy infrastructure, AI is rapidly becoming one of the most powerful technologies driving operational excellence and the next phase of growth in the electricity sector,” she said.
Established under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), NDPHC is one of Nigeria’s largest electricity generation and infrastructure companies.
Beyond power generation, the company plays a strategic role in expanding the country’s transmission and distribution networks through the construction of substations, transmission lines, transformers and other critical electricity infrastructure.
Through these investments and the increasing deployment of digital technologies, NDPHC aims to improve grid reliability, attract greater investment into the power sector and support Nigeria’s long-term energy security and economic development.
