Adedeji Adeleke, the father of the popular Nigerian musician Davido, don reveal how him get permit for the biggest power plant in Nigeria, wey dey worth over $2 billion. Him talk dis one during the Seventh Day Adventist General Conference Annual Council 2024, wey hold for Maryland, United States of America on Tuesday, October 15.
Adeleke, wey be billionaire industrialist, say him company, Pacific Energy, dey generate about 15% of Nigeria’s electricity. Him also talk about the new thermal power plant wey him dey build, which go be the largest in Nigeria with a capacity of 1,250 megawatts. The power plant expected to be fully operational by January 2025.
During the conference, Adeleke share him experience on how him run into bottlenecks with ‘difficult government officials’ while trying to get the environmental permit. One of the officials even tell am say the project no go see the light of day. But Adeleke no accept dat as final say, him go on him knees and pray to God.
Adeleke say him Chinese engineering friends worry because Afrexim Bank of China dey involved, and dem fear say if the project no go through, dem go face bankruptcy. But after prayer and further discussions, the then Minister of Power grant the approval because him see say the project be brilliant one.
The power plant project, which start in a village in Ondo state, provide over 1,000 indigenes with employment opportunities. However, the project face some challenges when looters infiltrate the site to steal components of the turbine machines worth about $5 million, causing a delay. But now, the project almost complete.