Canada Commits $5 Billion To 3,000 Megawatts Solar-Based Electricity In Nigeria

Canada has undertaken to commit five billion United States dollars in Nigeria to produce 3,000 megawatts of electricity in Nigeria even as Delta State stands to benefit about 1,000 Megawatts out of the project.
Nigeria’s minister of Industry, Trade and Foreign Investments, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, signed the Foreign Investments Protection Agreement (FIPA) with Canada to remove existing bottlenecks to smoothen the take-off of Canadian investments in Nigeria.
The Delta state government keyed into the green economy programme of the global community, leading to the state government signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a Canadian investor, Skypower Energy to build and generate solar-powered electricity in the state.
Speaking at the signing ceremony yesterday, Aganga said that the Canadian investor, Skypower Energy would be producing 3,000 megawatts of solar-based electricity for the national grid with the facility being deployed first in Delta State, having taken the initiative for the renewable energy plant.
“Skypower will deploy first in Delta State which has taken the lead because of the enormous work the State has put in to ensure the realization of the renewable energy programme”, the Nigerian minister said.
He said that the federal government will facilitate the provision of license to generate the solar-based electricity for the national grid with about 1,000 megawatts being generated from plants located in Delta State.
The Canadian minister of International Investments, Mr. Christian Paradis said that with the FIPA between Nigeria and Canada, more investors would be encouraged to invest in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan expressed delight at the FIPA and the keen interest shown by the Federal Government. He added that it is an endorsement of the initiative taken by his government, saying: “this is very historic and emotional for me. For us in Delta State, we have keyed into the green economy programme of the global community.
“The green economy is not just in enhancing the environment but also meant to empower the people.”