The Niger State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on "cooperation in the prevention and development of renewable energy and low-carbon solution projects".
The MOU was in the areas of industrialization, agriculture, solar power deployment, and renewable energy.
This will, among other things, bring about the development of a greenfield hydroelectric power project, solar parks in institutions, home solar systems for 250,000 households, and the establishment of a 500 million-litre ethanol plant.
Maize, sugarcane, and sweet sorghum will be cultivated on 100,000 hectares of land in the state to produce over 500,000 tonnes of the crops that will be used to fuel the ethanol plant.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alh. Abubakar Usman, signed the MOU on behalf of the State Government, while the NNPC's Executive Vice President, Gas, Power, and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, as well as its Managing Director, New Energy Limited, Kanayochukwu Odoe, signed for the NNPC at the Abuja Head Office of the Corporation.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mal. Bologi Ibrahim, Governor Umaru Bago described the signing of the MOU as historic and expressed confidence that Nigerlites will benefit a lot from it.
He noted that clean energy was one of the targets of the NNPC, pointing out that it is also a dream come true for the state, especially in its drive towards clean energy.
He then assured that the state government will continue to take advantage of the water bodies in the state to make green energy a reality.
The Executive Vice President of Gas, Power, and New Energy, Olalekan Ogunleye, explained that the leadership of NNPC was focused not just on projecting clean energy in Africa but on exploring the route and converting it for the prosperity of the country.
He commended the leadership style and commitment of Governor Umaru Bago and expressed optimism that the MOU with Niger State will create the platform to work together in terms of creating a green energy economy.
The Managing Director of NNPC New Energy Limited, Mr. Kanayochukwu Odoe, in his remarks, described the partnership with Niger State as progressive, adding that the corporation's objective of making Nigeria a hub of green energy and green economy is realisable.
The signing of the MOU was one of the positive outcomes of the first Green Economy Summit organised by the Niger State Government recently in its determination to maximise the benefits for the betterment of all.