In a significant development, the Niger State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) to collaborate on the development of renewable energy and low-carbon solutions. This collaboration will encompass several key projects, including the establishment of Greenfield Hydroelectric Power initiatives, solar installations within educational institutions, the deployment of home solar systems to benefit 250,000 households, and the construction of a 500 million-liter Ethanol plant.
The announcement was made by Bologi Ibrahim, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Mohammed Bago, in an official statement released on Wednesday. This partnership underscores the commitment of both parties to bolster various sectors, including industrialization, agriculture, solar deployment, and renewable energy solutions.
As part of this ambitious effort, a substantial 100,000 hectares of land in Niger State will be dedicated to cultivating maize, sugarcane, and sweet sorghum. The goal is to produce over 500,000 tons of crops to fuel the envisioned ethanol plant.
The MoU signing ceremony featured Governor Bago and the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, representing the state government. On the NNPC side, Olalekan Ogunleye, the Executive Vice President of Gas, Power, and New Energy, and Kanayochukwu Odoe, Managing Director of New Energy Limited, represented the corporation. The signing took place at the NNPC’s headquarters in Abuja.
Governor Bago expressed his optimism about the partnership’s potential to bring substantial benefits to the people of Niger State. He emphasized the pivotal role of clean energy, highlighting its alignment with the NNPC’s strategic goals and the state’s commitment to adopting clean and sustainable energy sources.
Additionally, Governor Bago reiterated the state’s commitment to leveraging its abundant water resources to realize its vision of a green-energy future.
Olalekan Ogunleye underscored NNPC’s leadership’s dedication to promoting clean energy across Africa and harnessing its potential for the nation’s economic prosperity. He commended Governor Bago’s visionary leadership and expressed confidence that the MoU would pave the way for a vibrant green-energy economy.
Kanayochukwu Odoe praised the partnership as a progressive step forward, noting that NNPC’s ambition to position Nigeria as a hub of green energy and a green economy is well within reach.