About bloody time! FG, investors sign N522bn pacts for mega solar plants

I mean, Lord above knows we get enough sunlight in that country. Even though most days you can’t see the sun because it is clouded by thick smog from generator fumes, but I digress.

Yes, it would seem that the federal government has finally decided to pull its finger out and do something about the current state of power (or lack thereof) in the country. They are investing into solar energy.

The acting Managing Director of the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), Mr Waziri Bintube, has said that 14 investors are working to generate 1,125megawatts (mw) electricity from solar technology. He says the pact was worth $1.75billion (about N521.9billion) and expected to produce power in 2017.

$1.75billion. $1.75billion!! Na so sunlight dear reach? It just seems to me that we spend obscene sums on generating power and seem to generate less and less of it. The government can call any amount of megawatts they like, it means nothing to anyone.

The only way one can know how much power is being generated is based on how much diesel and petrol one has to buy, and I’ll tell you this: it’s a lot.

Anyway, perhaps we should support this new initiative. Speaking of support though, is there any reason why the majority of the project is being based in the northern part of the country? Cos we don’t want to look like we’re not all for CHANGE, but there’s something not quite right with the resource allocation to my mind.

Ah, but there’s method to the madness, according to Bintube. He gave reasons for 13 of the plants being in the North, saying that solar energy generation was highest in Northern Nigeria.

Hian, that’s as may be. I hear Sokoto sun is not a joking sturves at all. But it’s hardly like the rest of Nigeria is languishing under a canopy either. I understand that solar energy is not generated by heat but by the radiance of the sun, but still. Scandinavian countries manage it with no problems and I don’t see why we cannot. It is difficult to explain to people that “Nigeria is one” when divisive decisions such as these keep getting made.

As for Fashola, he voiced concerns over the durability of these projects as he said a few had been done in the past that were rather shoddy and didn’t stand the test of time. Well, I guess that’s why you’re the minister, right? To oversee that quality is maintained? Please, not like the way you oversaw the building of that website that other time o, ehen. Thank you.