Oscarline Onwuemenyi
15 May 2013, Sweetcrude, Houston – The Federal Government has assured that the 10MW Wind Farm power project currently under construction in Katsina State would ensure optimal electricity to the state and its environs when concluded.
The Minister of State, Power, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, who stated this while visiting the project site of the multi billion naira Wind Mill Project, in Rimi Local Government in Katsina State, promised steady power supply to the indigenes around the project site as well as additional power supply to the national grid.
The Minister of State said, “Our intention is to supply electricity 24 hours to all Nigerians, especially those in the rural areas”, “I want to assure you that the project will be commissioned in few weeks time.”
Hajiya Kuchi commended the Katsina State Government for its support to the project, noting that the state government has paid the sum of N400m (Four hundred million Naira) to farmers who have been displaced as a result of the project. She advised the people of Katsina State to take full ownership of the project when fully commissioned.
Expressing her satisfaction with the project status, Hajiya Kuchi commended the company handling the 10MW Wind Project for their professionalism, diligence and hard work just as she observed that the project is fast moving and would soon be completed.
On the security at the site, the Minister acknowledged the assistance of the Katsina State Government as there are only a few isolated cases of theft and vandalisation reported.
Earlier, the representative of the project handler, Otis Engineering, Engr. Okoronko, said that the project is behind delivery scheduled due to the need to replace vandalized and stolen cables. He also regretted that the kidnap of the French engineer, Mr. Colump on the project site last year had impeded the prompt delivery of the project.
He assured that the minor outstanding works would not last longer than two weeks adding that all the needed facilities have been put in place including the ongoing fence work.
In a related development, the Minister of State for Power was also at the Dadin Kowa Dam in Gombe State to access the situation on ground.
She later paid a courtesy call on Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo at the Government House, where she assured him that the Federal Government is desirous to see the project delivered.
According to the Minister, the project which was concessioned for several years without any positive result should be taken over by the Government of Gombe State as requested, just as she noted that the project when completed would boost electricity supply and by extension the socio-economic activities of the people of Gombe State.
She noted that the inclusion of the hydro components in the project would generate about 30 – 34MW off grid electricity for domestic use of the people in Gombe and its environs.
It will be recalled that the Dadin Kowa Dam was originally designed for irrigation and water for domestic purposes but now being considered for off grid power source.
Earlier, the Governor told Hajiya Kuchi that a lot of investment has been done on the project and he is willing to invest more to bring electricity to his State.
He commended the Federal Government’s efforts in the implementation of the transformation agenda in the power sector which is private sector driven and urged the Minister not to relent in the commitments to the ongoing revolution.
