By
Bolaji Tunji
Ogun State Executive Governor, Dapo Abiodun on Thursday evening visited the Power House office of the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.
During the visit, the Governor applauded the Minister for the overwhelmingly noticeable improvements in power supply across the country and the ongoing turnaround being witnessed in the nation’s power sector. He enjoined him to sustain the momentum, which he said would help further galvanize the economy.
In his words “I came to visit my dear brother, our very brilliant Minister of Power who is performing wonders in the power sector and to further encourage him to sustain the noticeable improvement”.
Governor Abiodun also seized the opportunity to canvass for special attention to Ogun State being the nation’s key industrial cluster. He also acknowledged the recent working visits of the Minister to some power plants and industries in the State.
“As part of my visit, I want to make a special appeal to you for special attention to further enhance power infrastructures and supply to Ogun State, which is a key industrial hub in the country. I am aware that since your assumption of duty, you have visited some major industries and Power plants in the state like Momas Electricity Meters Manufacturing Company, Coleman Wires and Cables and Splendor Electric, producer of Porcelin high voltage electric insulators as well as the Olorunsogo NDPHC NIPP Power plant in Papa Lanto. However, we have a lot more to show you”.
The Governor thereafter officially Invited the Minister to Ogun State to meet with the industrialists in the State and also visit some of the government key initiatives in areas of modern agriculture, CNG and Electric vehicles projects as well as in renewable energy exploits.
“We would want to invite you to address our industrialists and expantiate on the Ministry’s immediate and long-term plan to further boost supply beyond current improvements. Your visit will also enable us to showcase what we have in the state and to further explore areas of collaboration with the ministry”, he said.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the Governor for the visit and his words of encouragement. He also used the opportunity to inform the Governor of the $500m Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA)’s intervention project aimed at strengthening transmission infrastructure along the Lagos – Ogun Industrial corridor, covering the Agbara, Mowe and Shagamu industrial clusters.
“We also have the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) projects, the highlights of which include boosting power transmission infrastructure within and outside the Ogun industrial corridors. Also ongoing are some Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)’s projects aimed at enhancing power supply to Ogun State”, the Minister said.
According to the Minister, all these will involve building additional power transmission substations and upgrading existing ones as well as reconductoring existing weak high voltage power lines and new extensions for capacity strengthening and expansion.
Adelabu also appealed to the governor to collaborate with the Ministry to impress it on gas pipeline operators to improve the pipeline infrastructures passing through the state to boost the pressure quality and quantity of gas supplies to power plants and industries within the state.
He also promised to undertake an official visit to the state soon as requested by the Governor to enable him meet with the industrialists within the corridor to explore possible areas of cooperation and collaboration.
