Makinde: It is important to note that the World Bank fund is a loan to states, not a grant. So, states will need to repay this loan.
Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, says the state will be the first to achieve energy sufficiency in Nigeria.
NAN reports the governor as saying that attaining energy sufficiency in Oyo has always been the focus of his administration.
Makinde expressed the readiness of the state to partner with the British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) to achieve the objective.
Makinde said this on Tuesday when he attended the 20th anniversary of the BATN Ibadan plant.
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“You are going to be commissioning a 1.4 megawatts solar plant. This is pretty much in line with our aspiration in Oyo state,” he said.
“For us, energy sufficiency is a big part of this administration. When I came in, there was no energy ministry but we now have one and the commissioner for the ministry is here.”
Makinde also said the state would soon commission its 11 megawatts power plant — with 10 megawatts as gas-driven and one megawatt as solar-powered.
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The governor disclosed that he would soon sign the bill establishing the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
He added that states can perform optimally if the constitution is amended to reduce dependence on Abuja.
Makinde commended the company for its immense contributions to Oyo state over the years, promising to sustain the conducive environment for businesses.
The governor lauded BATN for attaining a historic milestone in Nigeria, noting that the company has contributed in various ways to the development of the state.
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Kola Karim, the chairman of BATN, said the company has played a pivotal role in the economic growth and prosperity of the country.
Yarub Al-Bahrani, managing director of BATN, said the company would continue to sustain its legacy and economic growth in Oyo state and Nigeria.
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