Benue State government has disclosed that plans are under way to commence the production of hybrid solar panels, lithium battery using silicon and lithium mineral resources which is already available in the state.
The special adviser to the governor on international investments, Alex Addingi who disclosed this to journalists in Makurdi, the state capital said the state government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sinoki System Limited, a China-based solar-producing company which will soon commence operation, to enable the state generate its own power.
He said, “This power generation will help the state to end the issue of power outage and the renewable energy will also be exported to other states of the federation, and as well be used in the production of Benue electrical vehicles.”
He said the Benue renewable energy will help in boosting economic activities in the state and open up villages through small scale businesses because communities will be generating power on their own, adding that Benue will soon become a hub of business activities.
Addingi also disclosed that the state government will soon launch the Benue International Investment in November this year, which will give birth to Benue Economic City that will host over 50 companies for the growth and development of the state and this will also generate employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths.
He also informed that after the economic city, the Alia led administration will create a Diaspora Estate for indigenous sons and daughters of the state living abroad who can come and develop a place to stay with their families after going through the necessary procedures.
The special adviser disclosed that he visited the company in China to assess the level of competency and was convinced on the level of hybrid Solar panels and battery and electric vehicles produced by the company which he said were already in the state and is prepared to go into action.
In the same vein, the adviser also informed that the state government also signed another MoU with the Shanghai Haitian Hospital, to facilitate academic and clinical interchange between Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi to nib in the bud the issue of brain drain.
The partnership, according to the MoU, is in the areas of joint studies, training activities, and other educational exchanges of mutual interest.
