Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has urged the Federal Government and critical stakeholders to ensure adequate energy supply to Agbara business community to make it an investment destination.
Abiodun made the call at the launch of a collaboration between the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) and its partners on the ‘Project to Light Up’ Industrial Clusters on Thursday in Agbara, Ogun.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Vice President Kashim Shettima who launched the project, stated President Bola Tinubu’s pledge to reinvigorate the nation’s infrastructure framework.
Shettima said that the choice of Agbara as the pilot site of the project was due to its function as an artery of Nigeria’s industrial structure.
According to him, energy is a fundamental requirement for sustaining socio-economic activities and driving economic growth.
He said that without electricity, all infrastructure development efforts would be futile.
The governor disclosed that the establishment of the Agbara Cluster and four additional clusters by his administration demonstrated the commitment to creating an environment conducive to investment and industrial growth.
He, however, stressed the need for stable and reliable power to make the initiatives successful.
“We believe that with such initiative, it will ensure the sustainability of competitive industrialisation,” he said.
Recounting some of the clusters aside Agbara, the governor said there are four others, which include the Remo cluster, Magboro cluster and others.
“Other clusters, we are also creating, are the Aerotropolis which is our special agro processing zone, the first of its kind in Nigeria and the Ijebu-Ode cluster.
“We believe through these clusters, we can jump start socio economic activity.
“But, without a doubt, without stable, reliable and clean power, all these initiatives will be in vain. So, to that extent, we are extremely excited,” he said.
Similarly, Governor Sanwo-Olu called for consistent, reliable, and cost-efficient power supply to business clusters like Agbara.
Sanwo-Olu, represented represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, acknowledged that the challenges of inefficient power are not insurmountable.
He, however, said that with the right behaviour and cooperation from all stakeholders, the power issue can be resolved.
He also emphasised the importance of refraining from demeaning public institutions and fostering a positive environment for power generation.
“The issue of power is complex in Nigeria due to bad behaviour among the people, stakeholders, distribution and generating companies, respectively.
Sanwo-Olu, therefore, emphasised that with power solved in Nigeria, the economy would be fully developed. (NAN)
