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Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno State

Electricity generation: Northern Governors Forum signs MOU for 5 power projects

Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno State
Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno State
BY ABDULLAHI ISAH, MAIDUGURI

In its drive to boost the economy and resuscitate the industries in the region, the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NGF)has signed a memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with General Electric ‎International for the construction of five solar power projects, which are expected to generate 500 megawatts of electricity for some parts of Northern Nigeria.

While signing the MOU on Monday on behalf of the ‎Governors while General Electric’s Senior Executive, Western Europe and Africa, Mr Armand Pineda and the President/Chief Executive Officer, ‎General Electric, Nigeria, Dr Lazarus Angbazo in a brief ceremony held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, the Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum, who is also the Borno state Governor, Hon. Kashim Shettima, said the projects are expected to generate 500 megawatts.

He said the projects which are a pilot phase, are being coordinated by the Northern Nigeria Global Economic Re-integration Programme, newly created by the Northern Governors to serve as vehicle for the economic recovery of the northern States through international relations on infrastructure, manufacturing, stimulation of the agricultural value chain and trade and making the region a global player in agricultural export in line with the vision of the late Premier of the Region.

The forum in a statement signed by the spokesman of the Chairman, Mallam Isa Gusau said that based on the MOU, General Electric which has 120 years experience in power generation, is to build five solar power plants to be located in Borno, Kebbi, Nassarawa, Niger and Taraba States with each of the plants expected to generate 100 megawatts of electricity totaling 500 megawatts.

“The electricity is meant to stimulate economic activities and social services in the affected States through boosting of agricultural food processing, small scale businesses in addition to supplying electricity to schools and hospitals, Gusau added.

The Governors Forum led by Governor Kashim Shettima, engaged the services of Malam Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi as Chief Executive Officer of the Programme. Kurfi was Chief Economic Adviser to late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua and has wide contacts 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. 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”, Gusau quoted Governor Kashim Shettima as saying at the MOU signing ceremony.

“The Northern Governors Chairman enumerated challenges of poverty, unemployment, poor access to education, poor healthcare amongst other underdevelopment indicators threatening the north and concluding that power can provide a vehicle for the north to reposition itself for a better future.”

The CEO, Northern Nigeria Global Economic Re-Integration Programme, Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi said he took up the challenge ‎put forward by the Northern Governors as a result of the strong passion and commitment to the aggressive development of the north so far shown by the Northern Governors since Governor Shettima became the forum’s chairman in 2015.

Reaffirming their commitment to the MOU, General Electric’s Senior Executive, Western Europe and Africa, Mr Armand Pineda and the President/Chief Executive Officer, ‎General Electric, Nigeria, Dr Lazarus Angbazo both pledged that they would work round the clock to realize the project for the benefit of citizens of the five States.

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