Northern Governors sign MOU with GE for 5 power plants

The Northern States Governors’ Forum has announced the signing of a MoU with General Electric ‎International on Monday, November 28 for the construction of five solar plants that aim at generating 500 megawatts of electricity in some parts of Northern Nigeria. Borno State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Kashim Shettima, who signed the agreement on behalf of the ‎Governors, made the announcement on Monday.

General Electric’s Senior Executive, Western Europe and Africa, Armand Pineda and the President/Chief Executive Officer, ‎General Electric, Nigeria, Dr Lazarus Angbazo signed on behalf of their company in a brief ceremony which held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja. Based on the agreement, GE will build five solar power plants in Borno, Kebbi, Nassarawa, Niger and Taraba states and each of the plants expected to generate 100 megawatts of electricity, totaling 500 megawatts across the 5 States. Shettima noted that the electricity is meant to stimulate economic activities and social services in the affected States through boosting agricultural food processing, small scale businesses in addition to supplying electricity to schools and hospitals.

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The project which is a pilot phase, is being coordinated by the Northern Nigeria Global Economic Re-integrationProgramme, newly created by the Northern Governors to serve as vehicle for the economic recovery of northern States through international relations on infrastructure, manufacturing, stimulate agricultural value chain and trade and make the region a global payer agricultural export in line with the vision of late Premier of the Region. The Governors Forum led by Governor Kashim Shettima also employed Malam Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi as Chief Executive Officer of the Programme. Kurfi was Chief Economic Adviser to late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua and he has wide contact with leading development companies and financial institutions across the world.

“The 19 Governors of the north jointly created this approach. We want to go beyond lamentation to provide solutions and we all know that power is key to industrial development. With power, we can create jobs, stimulate our economies and make life better for our people.

The General Electric has over 120 years experience in energy solutions and they have been operating in Nigeria for over 50 years, we cannot have a better partner than GE. “We shall do our part as Governors, this I will assure you. We are deeply committed to this agreement” Governor Kashim Shettima said at the MOU signing ceremony. It is believed that stable electricity in the country is being hampered by poor foreign exchange. Engr. Abiodun Akindele, the regional technical manager, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), on Thursday, November 24, attributed the high foreign exchange rate to the recent poor electricity supply in the region, Daily Trust reports. Akindele made this known when he appeared before the Ogun state House of Assembly.