Ossiomo Power Company Insists CCETC Mere Contractor, Not Shareholder, Says Relationship That of Owner, Contractor

Hendrix Oliomogbe 

Authorities of Ossiomo Power Company, Ologbo have insisted that it fully owned the electricity company and is not in any partnership with a Chinese firm, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Company Limited (CCETC).

Fielding questions from journalists Tuesday in Benin City, the managing director of Ossiomo Power Company, Dr. Uwa Igiehon explained that the relationship between the power company at Ologbo, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State and CCETC, is purely that of owners (Ossiomo) and contractor (CCETC) and nothing more.

Dr. Igiehon, who spoke against the backdrop of a lingering dispute between his company and CCETC, disclosed that the Chinese firm was simply a contractor to COPC, the project company until it overstepped its boundary and switched off the company's turbines. 

While denying claims that CCETC has 75% of the shares of Ossiomo Power Company, he said that CCETC) had neither been a partner nor a shareholder of the power company, 

He insisted that COPC is 100 percent owned by Ossiomo Power, noting that there is no direct relationship between Ossiomo Power, which he solely founded and CCETC.

He insisted: "There is no direct relationship between Ossiomo Power and CCETC.  CCETC has never owned any shares in Ossiomo Power. In 2017/2018, CCETC applied to join the project but Ossiomo Power refused to have a direct relationship with CCETC because of lack of trust."

The managing director disclosed that in 2008, he acquired the land for Ossiomo Power, one of the corporate players within the Ossiomo Industrial Park, Ologbo, comprising energy; oil and gas; metals; marine; and agricultural sector, from Oba Erediauwa, after which the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission granted the company licenses for electricity generation, transmission and distribution in 2015.

He said: "In 2017, Ossiomo Power executed Power Purchase Agreement with Edo State government on a “willing buyer-willing seller” basis. In 2018, Ossiomo Power signed a Joint Venture Agreement with CCETC following the introduction of CCETC to Ossiomo Power by Sinohydro/Power China, and in 2020, Ossiomo Power commenced 24/7 power supply to its customers.

"Between 2020 and 2025, Ossiomo Power supplied 24/7 electricity to millions of customers around Benin metropolis before CCETC abruptly and violently switched off its engines, thereby stopping power production and supply.

"On September 5, 2025, Ossiomo Power started power supply from Ossiomo's 100% owned IPP2. Again on October 5, 2025, CCETC used local thugs to shutdown Ossiomo IPP2 and disconnected it from the Ossiomo's 33KV line and since then, our efforts to restart generation, transmission and distribution of power to our customers have been thwarted by the CCETC and its paid local thugs."

The managing director said the heart of the matter is that CCETC failed to fulfill its obligations and breached all the agreements and failed to construct a 50 MW power plant for COPC which it never did and as such does not own any power plant.

"It's because CCETC is aware it cannot construct a power plant of its own, that is the reason they are using force to occupy Ossiomo Power facilities and using thugs to attack and vandalize our facilities.

On the companies' relationship with the host community, Ologbo as regards its corporate social responsibility (CSR), Dr. Igiehon, explained that they have always had a good relationship with the people right from the onset, noting that that an MOU was signed with the community.

"In fact, Ossiomo Power started supplying power to Ologbo in 2021/2022 after more than six years of the community not having electricity supply following its disconnection by BEDC allegedly for non-payment of bills and vandalism. Ossiomo Industrial Park contributed over 182 million naira as CSR to Ologbo community in 2025, alone."

He faulted Edo State Commissioner for Power, Hon. Paul Usenbor over charges that the inability of the power company to restart operations is caused by ownership tussle between it and CCETC, emphasizing that there is no dispute over the ownership whatsoever.

He disclosed that the only reason for the stoppage of the power operations is due to the violent attacks by some hired local thugs.

Determined efforts to speak with the management of CCETC were futlie as their mobile phone numbers were serially engaged.