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Nigeria has taken a giant leap towards harnessing the power of the sun as the Federal Government embarks on an ambitious project to build a state-of-the-art solar photovoltaic module assembly plant in Enugu State, with a whopping price tag of over N60 billion.
Located in the Ihunekwagu community of Akpugo, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, this trailblazing project marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards renewable energy.
As the first of its kind in the country, it’s expected to bolster the federal government’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and embrace a more sustainable energy mix.
During the groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday, Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology, credited President Bola Tinubu’s vision for the South East as the driving force behind the project, highlighting the President’s efforts to foster growth and progress in the region.
Chief Uche Nnaji implored the Igbo people to refrain from participating in the planned nationwide protests, assuring them that President Bola Tinubu’s investments in the South East demonstrate his genuine commitment to their welfare and development.
“Just a couple of days ago, the South East Development Commission was signed into law and what it means is that in billions, if not trillions, we will be having developmental projects and monies into the South East.
“So we are getting all these because the president is a man of focus. A man that wants to put food on people’s tables. The man who wants to give the South East their own fair share. He is not discriminatory. He knows what he is doing and he is from the private sector.
“What is happening here today shows that the man means business. We are going to employ a lot of people here. Our people are going to make a lot of money, not just our people here but our priority all over the country. This is president Tinubu in action. This project, by the time it is finished will consume over N60 billion.
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“I encourage our people not to join the protest. Ndigbo don’t engage in protest because any time we waste in protest is the money that would have entered our hands. Ohanaeze has said we are not joining the protest. Our people have said we are not joining. There is nothing to protest.
“I urge everyone to align with the renewed hope agenda of the president who is committed to improving the standard of living and is doing everything possible to ensure that energy problems in the country become a thing of the past. We look forward to the commissioning of this project in no distant time.
On his part, the Director General, and Chief Executive Officer, Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, said that the project was part of the current administration’s efforts to diversify energy generation to make it affordable for Nigerians.
“What we are doing is diversification. We are diversifying to a more sustainable energy source which is the solar panel, using solar to generate electricity. For us to make sure that this gets to the grassroots, we must domesticate the solar panel system in the country.
“That is why we are building this. We guarantee Nigerians that they are going to be buying panels at a very affordable price. Everybody will have access to electricity without going to the grid. We want to decentralise people from looking at just one power source.
The House of Reps Member representing Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency, Chief Chimaobi Atu, thanked President Bola Tinubu for bringing the project to the South East, noting that it will go a long way in the economic transformation of Enugu State and the entire South East.
“You can see that the work is moving towards renewable energy. This project will create employment and the materials to be used will be sourced locally. You know that some components of the solar panel come from coal and we have coal in abundance here.
“This means that this state and the entire South East is blessed. This will address insecurity as our youths will be meaningfully engaged. This is a huge project for Enugu State and Nigeria in general,” he said.
