News Investigators/ Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has reached an agreement to partner with the Islamic Development Bank for the implementation of the Niger Solar Electrification Project.
The project, which is the first of its kind in the Sub-Saharan Africa, is to cover 200 hectares of land, with a cost of $163m to provide alternative source of power to many communities.
Mr Bago, who received the preparation Mission team for the Niger Solar Electrification Project, code named, ‘NGA1063’ said, the state government had invested a lot of funds in the agricultural sector, pointing out that, the solar electrification project would complement in terms of food production and Industrialisation.
Mr Bago acknowledged the vital roles Islamic Development Bank had played in the State through various intervention projects.
He stated that the bank’s decision to build 100megawatts of solar power in the state was a huge investment that will help increase productivity and revenue generation as well as pay itself.
He also admitted that the electrification project would address multi – sectorial issues.
The Governor while appreciating the bank for the sustained partnership, said the state would ensure that it maintained all the projects as the state remains positioned to harness its potential in renewable energy.
In remarks, the Task Team Lead, Daniyar Abylkhan, disclosed that the bank was depending on the abundance of sunlight in the state to harness electricity for solar power
He commended the governor’s initiative for diversifying the means of harnessing energy to meet the needs of the people.
Mr Abylkhan said the IsDB was in a long standing development partnership with Niger, having entered agreement with the state in the reconstruction of Minna to Bida Road.
He added that the level of success of the project so far was one of the major reasons why the IsDB want to always come back to the State for more partnerships.
The Secretary to the State Government, Usman Abubakar, disclosed that the meeting was to kickstart the IsDB preparation for the State Solar Electrification Project, which, he said, was to be funded by the bank.
He said that the primary purpose was to look at what the state has put together with the relevant stakeholders so as to be able to come up with a document that would enable them carry out the appraisal as part of the process that will qualify the state to get the necessary approval.
Making a brief presentation on the Project, one of the project Consultants, Umar Faruk-Batagarawa, said, Niger was uniquely positioned.
He says, “This is because it has complimentary power generating sites and as such, the solar project will equally help in stabilising the national grid as it will be an addition to the 2,000q megawatts being produced from the state.”
Another Consultant, Mohammed Mahdi-Abubakar, who gave an overview on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, said it has become necessary to conduct research as a factor for the successful implementation of any project.
He stated that community engagement remained a critical factor in the project as the people’s buy-in had to be sought before embarking on any project.
NAN
