Omo, you sabi wetin dey happen for Katsina? Dem don deploy over 30 megawatts of renewable energy no be small! Na for less than two and half years o! E no go surprise you say, na the Katsina State Government dey run this show to tackle energy wahala and make sure say light no be luxury again.
Dr. Hafiz Ahmed, wey be the Special Adviser to Governor Dikko Umar Radda, yarn am clear for interview wey dem do for Thursday say, dem get plan wey dey guide dem. Dis plan na correct arrangement wey dem do with Power Africa. Dem start by asking wetin be the energy need of Katsina for the next 20 years.
According to am, energy better no dey only for Katsina, na for Nigeria wey need ham well well. E mention say over 80 million Nigerians no get light. But Governor Radda no sabi sleep for this one, e don set mind to change the game for Katsina make everywhere dey shine.
Katsina don become jara jara for renewable energy! Na computerized light dem dey use now, solar-powered streetlights don replace all those diesel and grid light wey dey make dem sweat. Dr. Ahmed come kpack say, “100 per cent of wetin don come out for Katsina na renewable energy.”
You fit imagine say government buildings like State Secretariat, Government House, and hospitals don switch from diesel generators to solar-powered systems? E don save dem plenty money. Dem don even approve 20.1MW of solar power to supply 11 important government facilities wey dey chop 93 percent energy cost! E mean say, at least dem go dey save money for diesel and grid power!
And no be only power work dey happen o, agriculture, healthcare, education and small businesses dey enjoy the energy reforms too! Omo, dem go equip 361 primary healthcare centres with standalone solar systems wey go make sure say dem no dey carry light wahala for their head. Katsina General Hospital dey enjoy 24-hour light now, and dem don approve the same package for Kankiya General Hospital and others.
For education matter, dem don approve solar installations for tertiary institutions and some schools to support e-learning. Na dis kind move fit change the game well! Na wetin we dey talk say “future na our own”!
Plus, dem don agree to buy 200 distribution transformers with $1.5 million joint money with Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO). Katsina go provide half of the money while KEDCO go cover the rest, and dis one go increase their stake for KEDCO as dem dey hold 17 percent now.
Dr. Ahmed come talk say, dem dey pursue hydropower too with partners wey dey include French Government and Ocean Energy, all for Lanjewa Dam. But dem get small wahala wey be vandalism, wey dey draw back progress, so dem dey beg residents make dem protect public assets.
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