The Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun has commissioned the 85KWp Solar Hybrid Mini – Grid electricity project at Gbamu-Gbamu village in Ijebu – East Central Local Council Development Area of the State, Friday, saying it will supply electricity to 487 households.
Speaking during the commissioning, the Governor stated that the project is in line with his administration’s rural infrastructure development agenda, saying it will be of great benefit to Small, Medium and Micro businesses in and around the community, enjoining the people to collaborate with investors to bring dividends of democracy to the area.
While appreciating the Mohammadu Buhari led Federal Government for including Ogun State in the pilot scheme of the rural electrification project, he noted that the provision of stable power supply will improve the agricultural, educational, and economic and health sectors of the nation at large.
The Minister of State 11, Power, Works and Housing, Surv. Suleiman Hassan Zarma, in his remarks, reiterated the commitment of the President Buhari led Administration to the achievement of incremental, stable and uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians as echoed in the road map designed by the Ministry. In his own words, he said, “our being here today is deliberate. It underscores the importance government attached to the provision of electricity in remote and underserved rural communities all over Nigeria through distributed power generation using locally available resource such as solar and wind”.
The Minister disclosed that the project was co – funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and the German International Development Agency, Deutsche Geseuschaft (GIZ) through the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) which partnered with the Ogun State Government and a private investor, Rubitech Solar to provide clean energy for rural households, which would in turn improve the lives of the people through improved education, health care, water and job creation.
He assured that the Federal Government would continue to engage the private sector for the benefit of Nigerians. Speaking further, Suleiman said “In 2018 we are making efforts to add incremental power from renewable energy from the Katsina wind farm (10MW), Gurara (30MW), Dadin Kowa (29MW) and Kashimbilla (40MW) project that had lingered for years before this administration. Additionally, mega projects like 3050MW Mambilla Hydropower project that have been on the drawing board for 30 years has been contracted out by this administration and work will commence soon’’.
The European Union representative, Kurt Cornelius, the German Consular General, Ingo Herbert and the United States Consular General in Lagos, John Bray, on their part, noted that the project will definitely bring great development to the community.
Baale of Gbamugbamu, Mr. Adekunle Fayomi and the Chairman, Ijebu East- Central Local Council Development Area, Barr. Adebayo Osikomaiya, on behalf of the people of the community, thanked the government for the gesture expressing optimism that it will not only attract investors but also assist existing ones to thrive
Etore E. Thomas
Deputy Director (Press)
