Governor seyi Makinde has directed that all zones in oyo state be provided with 600 km solar power streets lighting between now and 2027 when he will complete his second term tenure.
The state commissioner for ministry of energy and mineral resources, Professor Dahud Shangodoyin disclosed this during an Exclusive interview with Crude Reports magazine at his office in Agodi secretariat,Ibadan. All the documentation needed to kick-start the multi billion naira project is being prepared and is expected to be ready within the next three to four weeks .
According to the Honourable commissioner, the project is urgent and is getting the necessary attention it requires. “His Excellency has directed that we add 600km of Solar power Streets lighting to all nooks and crannies of oyo state. I have collected the data. What we are working towards now is collation of the data,which means that within the next three or four weeks,we should get our documents ready for the Governor to put in his final approval for us”
The 600km solar power streets lighting will cover ogbomosho zone,Oyo zone,Oke Ogun zone 1and 2,Ibarapa zone and Ibadan zone 1and 2. To ensure that all stakeholders are properly consulted and get their inputs,Professor Shangodoyin said a lot has been done in this regard.In his words”I have actually gone to all our leaders at house of assembly to appeal to them to tell our local leaders about streets that we need to energise to put the Solar lights,I have talked to the local government chairmen and they have given us their own and some leaders within the communities have given us their concern about their needs in terms of street lights”
So far,450 km has been pencilled down for coverage with Solar lights but the Governor was said to have insisted that the 600km coverage areas should be targeted to be achieved for the entire state.The commissioner explained that by the grace of God everything possible will be done to meet up with the deadline for the project.
He expressed his optimism this way”Iam targeting between 500 – 550km of operation Light up oyo state with Solar lights .If Iam able to do that,that will be OK.Hopefully before this year runs out,we should have done a substantial part of it and see what is left to be covered”
Professor Shangodoyin is happy that the the high mast floodlights around bridges 1 and 2 at the circular road,Ajimobi State Tecnical University and Badeku areas which are part of the Oyo light up programme had improved the social and economic lives of the residents around those communities.”What we have now around the circular road and those other places lighted up is what I will call night economy. In other words,you can move freely at Onipepeye till midnight while lots of business activities are on going because the place is well secured and well lighted up.Same when going to Ife from Badeku as well as when coming from Lagos at Bridge 1,Circular road”
Professor Dahud Shangodoyin who expressed gratitude to his Excellency, Governor Seyi makinde for the support received to make all the listed achievements possible said the bill that will establish the oyo state electricity market is ready and will soon be presented before the state Executive Council before it will be sent to the state House of assembly for legislation after which the governor will assent to it to make it a law.
