Oyo State Governor, Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde has announced the completion of the phase 1 of the 11MW hybrid power solution Independent Power Project (IPP), stating that the project will be commissioned on December 6, 2024.
Governor Makinde disclosed this in his November 2024 newsletter where he expressed happiness over the completion of the public-private partnership project funded by the Oyo State Government and Elektron Energy.
“I am happy to update you on the completion of phase 1 of the 11 MW hybrid power solution Independent Power Project (IPP). The IPP is a public-private partnership between the Oyo State Government and Elektron Energy. Phase 1, which is 5 MW, is ready to go live. We will commission this project next month on 6 December 2024.
“For some years, residents have asked how we will power the Light Up Oyo project in the long term. We spoke about the main source of the tribrid power system. This IPP is the main power source. Once the final phase is completed, it will also serve the energy needs of various infrastructural facilities in Oyo State,” Governor Makinde said.
He added that the Oyo State-Shell Nigeria Gas project is also ongoing, while expressing the determination of the government to set the right foundations to ensure that his successor “will build up, rather than try to dig out of the trenches as we had to.”
He recalled another leap taken by the state towards making agribusiness a key driver of the state’s economy through the flag-off, last week, of the Eruwa Agribusiness Industrial Hub.
Makinde said the 3,250-ha facility is being developed by the Oyo State Government through the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the private sector as a Public-Private-Development Partner (PPDP) project.
“Having learnt from the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub pilot project, we are better equipped to see to the quicker completion of this project which we believe will put Ibarapa on the world map,” he said.
The governor reminded that development can only take place where there is unity of purpose, urging the people to key into the project’s vision while noting it is one of the major ways of ensuring that the people get jobs.
“The plan for that facility includes large-scale mechanised crop and livestock production, processing facilities, an agri-tourism resort, residential properties, and more. We look forward to commissioning the facility before the end of our tenure,” Governor Makinde pledged.
