Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has said that the state will be the first in the country to achieve energy sufficiency.
The governor expressed his determination to achieve this at the 20th anniversary of the British American Tobacco (BAT) Ibadan Plant, held at the company’s premises in Ibadan on Tuesday.
Lauding BAT for the institution of a 1.4 million megawatts solar plant in the factory, Makinde said this keyed into his aspiration that the state should be self-sufficient in electricity generation.
In light of this, Makinde said he would, this week, sign into law the Oyo Electricity Regulatory Commission Bill, just as the state will also, within the next few weeks, commission its 11-megawatt power plant, with 10 megawatts gas-driven and one megawatt solar-powered.
He stressed that the state was also keen on working with BAT to improve the electricity supply in the state.
He said, “You are going to be commissioning a 1.4 megawatt solar plant. This is pretty much in line with our aspirations in Oyo State.
“For us, energy sufficiency is a big part of this administration. When I came in, there was no Energy Ministry, but we now have one, and the Commissioner for the Ministry is here.
“Less than 3 kilometres from here, you have the City Gate for the gas coming into Ibadan. So, we should be able to work together to utilise Nigerian gas in this environment.”
He added that states can perform optimally if the constitution of the country is amended in some aspects, stating that dependence on Abuja will reduce drastically.
“One thing I want to say is that we have also been working on the legal end of things. You know the constitution has just been amended. The House of Assembly has just passed the bill, and I will be signing it into law before the end of this week. The bill has created the Electricity Regulatory Commission in Oyo State.”
The governor hailed BAT for attaining a historic milestone in Nigeria, noting that the company has contributed in various ways to the development of the state.
Speaking earlier, the chairman, BAT Nigeria, Chief Kola Karim, said the company had played a pivotal role in the economic growth and prosperity of the country.
He said, “It is a privilege and honour to stand as the chairman of BAT and to welcome you to a celebration of over a hundred years of doing business in Nigeria.
“On this remarkable journey, we have taken over the past two decades since our world-class factory began operation here in Ibadan.
“Standing as a testament to our dedication to excellence and innovation, the state-of-the-art facility has not only served as a beacon of progress but has also played a pivotal role in economic growth and prosperity.”
Similarly, the Managing Director, BAT Nigeria, Mr Yarub Al-Bahrani, said the company would continue to sustain its legacy of success and economic growth in Oyo State and Nigeria.
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