14 February 2016, Lagos — The Federal Government has charged northern states’ governments to embark on the deployment of solar technology in order to meet the region’s energy needs.
The Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Hon. Mustapha Shehuri, gave the charge when the Deputy Governor of Jigawa, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan, visited him in Abuja on Thursday.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Assistant Director of Information in the ministry, Mr Muhammed Ahmed, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
The statement said solar power remains the most viable option for Jigawa which lacked gas and adequate water source for generation of electricity.
While commending the Jigawa government for the deployment of solar powered energy, Shehuri assured that the Federal Government would provide the necessary support and encouragement to drive the project.
He also assured Nigerians that with an appropriate energy mix for the country in the power sector, tariffs would eventually crash as was obtainable in other countries.
Earlier, the Jigawa Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan, informed the minister of the state’s plan to generate 80 megawatts of solar power in partnership with a private energy development company.
Hassan said that the company, which has fulfilled all regulatory requirements, was in negotiation with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc for the signing of a Power Purchase Agreement.
*NAN