FIC Report (Edo State) – Edo state government has affirmed that a feasibility study with UNIDO on Small Hydro power project was concluded last year to generate some megawatts from the Ikpoba River Dam to service some locations in New Benin down to the Benin Technical College within the Benin Metropolis.
This was disclosed by the state Commissioner for Energy, Mr. Akin Agbaje, in a chat with journalists in Benin City.
The commissioner reassured that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration is committed to exploiting other energy sources to address the power needs of Edo people.
He said the second phase of the feasibility study is well captured in the 2020 budget, and very soon, the feasibility study will be concluded and construction works will commence.
The commissioner reiterated efforts of the Obaseki-led administration to protect citizens from exploitation, adding that an Energy Working Committee was on ground to coordinate the processes of integration into the communities.
According to him, in the course of writing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the host communities, the state government played a critical role through relevant agencies, to ensure the process of land acquisition within shortest possible time; and also ascertain that Edo indigenes are not exploited.
Agbaje further revealed that the state government was in talks with the Institute of Renewal Energy in Benin City to harvest some of the institute’s research reports towards addressing the energy needs of Edo people
F.O Imuetinyan
FIC, Edo State
