Kogi, Hong Kong sign MoU to kick off 100MW Solar Energy Project

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The Kogi State government on Wednesday May 18 signed an MOU with Coast to Coast of Hong Kong for the generation of 100MW via solar energy, in a bid to meet the expected uptake in industrialization planned for the State.

The total sum of the multimillion-dollar investment remains undisclosed by both parties as at press time, though the Special Adviser to the Kogi State Governor on Finance, Investment, Commerce and Industry, Mr Asiwaju Idris Asiru revealed that the project has a completion period of 9 months.

The MOU is expected to complement various initiatives Governor Yahaya Bello has embarked on, since entering office less than four months ago.

In April, the State’s Task Force on Produce revealed it had blocked the leakage of 11mn Naira monthly plundered by a few on produce revenue in Kogi’s forests, and in recent weeks, the State has signed MOUs with Chinese firms worth at least $1bn of foreign direct investments in the areas of Agriculture, Mining, Tourism, development of Kogi State Inland Waterways and Wood Processing.

Speaking, Mr Idris Asiru said: “The latest MoU is a much-needed investment; power is needed for small businesses powered by the people, as well as to give them quality of life. This project will achieve provision of direct and indirect employment, exponentially increase our internally generated revenue, and thereby tangibly and sustainably improve the human capital development of residents and indigenes of Kogi State.”

On her part, the Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade said the solar project “is key because, just like healthcare, power is the fastest way to uplift the living standards of people and change their fortunes, effectively changing the profile of the State.”

“The government is moving at a faster pace because Kogi is a unique State with peculiar resources, and associated challenges. As the only Nigerian State that borders 10 others, we see smuggling of our natural resources through dozens of outlets; we have decided that instead, our borders will facilitate industrialization and assume its rightful position as a prosperous gateway to trade,” she added.

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