Excerpts of Osinbajo media chat after touring Azura power plant in Edo
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Azura Power Plant readiness to deliver
The Azura Project has taken off, it is not a matter of just ready for commissioning, and we are seeing the very positive effect of this amount of generation coming onto the grid. As you can see for yourselves, it is an excellent and wonderful project, which demonstrates the capacity of Nigerian engineering and enterprise. So it is really impressive.
Status of power situation in Nigeria today
It has greatly improved with 460MW of additional power, and with the quality of this particular plant, I think that we are on to a very good path. Of course, even with the capacity to increase generation from here, looks very positive.
More power plants needed to improve power in Nigeria
All that we need to do is what we are doing already; creating the enabling environment for businesses and private sector to thrive. As you know, this is a privately owned plant and initiative, with the active support of the government which explains why I am here. We are giving all the support that we can, ensuring the environment is right for those who want to invest in the power sector is what we will do, and continue to do. We expect that we should see more, we expect Azura itself, increasing its capacity as time goes on, and then of course, we would see others who would come as well.
Progress in Edo State
It has been fantastic, as you know; I had gone first to commission the housing project – the Emotan Gardens, the 1,600 units of housing. I have also been to see the South-south Innovation Hub, a collaboration between the Federal and State government on Innovation and Technology. I saw all the young, creative Nigerians involved in creativity and technology there, doing wonderful and fantastic things. I was there to commission that. I was also here to see N-Power graduates, GEEP beneficiaries, the micro-credit loan scheme, and to see how we can increase the work being done, especially the contribution of the Federal Government. I have seen so many of what the Edo State Government is doing, just incredible stuff! I am glad that I came, and I will be back.
