Press Release: Energy Access - Kebbi Govt, citizens, embracing Distributed Renewables For Energy Access - Bagudu

Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has said that Government and people of the state were embracing the Distributed Renewables for Energy Access (DREA).

This is just as the Governor disclosed that, the technology had impacted positively on no fewer than one hundred and fifty million people around the world since 2009.

Bagudu disclosed this, at the 38th National Solar Energy Forum (NASEF 2020) holding in Sokoto, with a theme : "Solar Energy in Post COVID-19 Economy."

The Governor, who was the Guest Speaker added : "The DREA systems are present in both urban and rural areas and the developing world."

"And they provide a wide range of services, including lighting, appliances, cooking, space heating and cooling, biomass cooking stoves, biogas and solar cookers, electric stoves and many productive uses."

Bagudu also stated that, the state government and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to cultivate 20,000 hectares of cassava and sugarcane for biofuel production.

According to the Kebbi State Governor, the ethanol project was jointly financed by the state government and NNPC, to the tune of N1 billion.

He added: "So far, the state government has assigned 5,000 hectares of land for the project, out of which, 2,675 hectares have been cultivated and fully established purpose of generating seedlings and raw materials, for a test run of machinery."

"This will not only boost the internally generated revenue of the state, but, more importantly create thousands of direct and indirect jobs for our teeming youths."

Bagudu averred that, energy is an important index of socioeconomic development of modern society, as it powers heating, cooling , lighting , transportation, communications, health and agriculture, among others.

The Governor also said that, Nigeria was endowed with abundant energy resources like oil gas and coal, solar energy, biomass resources, wind power and hydropower resources, among others.

Bagudu however regretted that, Nigeria was yet to fully utilize her abundant renewable resources, to provide adequate energy access to the citizens in the rural , semi-urban and urban communities .

The Governor said that, the theme was apt and timely as COVID-19 had brought out how interdepended on oil and other countries could spell doom for nations.

He also noted that, the era of hydrocarbon has come to an end, while the only plausible solutions remained renewable energy sources, especially solar power .

Bagudu opined that, some policies put in place by President Muhammadu Buhari were efficacious and that was why Nigeria's economy was still working.

He cited the example of the pumping of over. N 2.7 trillion into the economy by the Federal Government, to cushion the devastating effects of the pandemic.

He commended the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria for conferring on him the ," Advocates of Solar Energy and Fellowship,".

Bagudu promised to sustain his partnership with the society to better the lives of the people of Kebbi State .

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto Professor Lawal Suleiman Bilbis and Professor Bala who represented the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu commended the university particularly the Solar Energy Society for promoting research in the country.

On his part, the President of Solar Energy of Nigeria, Professor I. J Dioha called on policy makers to make Nigeria have energy law.

He commended the Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for his emphasis on the development of Science and Technology recalling that the first Solar village was cited in Kebbi State at Tungar Buzu.

The governor was accompanied on the trip to the 38th National Solar Energy Forum in Sokoto by Hon. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Hassan Shalla,Aminu Garba Dandiga, Hon. Commissioner for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, that of Water Resources, Hon Nura Kangiwa , former Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Abubakar Muhammed Kaoje and member representing Maiyama constituency, Kebbi State House of Assembly, Hon Umar Sallas Sambawa (UU).

Highlights of the event include the conferment of award on Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku who received the advocate of Solar Energy in Nigeria and Fellowship of Solar Energy Society of Nigeria. Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his Zamfara State counterpart, Alhaji Bello Mutawalle , were also among the Awardees.

Other awardees include the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who was represented by Professor I. J. Dioha, the President of Solar Energy Society of Nigeria, Professor Suleiman Bogoro, Jelani Aliyu, Director General, National Automative Design and Development Council among others.

Signed:
YAHAYA SARKI
Special Adviser (SA) Media to Kebbi State Governor
23/11/2020