By Mary Onyia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has pledged to accelerate renewable energy projects in the state by resolving implementation delays and activating existing agreements with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
Otti made the commitment while receiving a delegation from the REA, the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, and the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles at the Government House in Umuahia, according to a statement from REA made available to the press.
The governor said Abia had the potential to make significant progress in renewable energy deployment and assured the delegation that pending issues delaying implementation would be addressed.
“Just watch us and see what will happen in the next 14 days. It’s very interesting to watch this presentation. I would like to have another session with you because some of the data you captured here are what I need to work with.
“You can be sure that you will hear from us within the next 14 days, and the lowest-hanging fruit is this initiative covering ten states”.
Otti also said the state had made progress in deploying electric buses, adding that the initiative had produced positive results for its green energy programme.
He further disclosed that a state focal person would be appointed immediately to improve coordination with the federal agencies.
Speaking at the meeting, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of REA, Dr. Abba Aliyu, said the agency had mapped communities across the country requiring rural electrification.
He disclosed that 1,000 mini-grids were currently being deployed across different states.
Aliyu noted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Abia State last year had experienced implementation delays, but said the agency was ready to support the state once it demonstrated commitment to the projects.
The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Strategy Officer, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, and members of the Abia State Executive Council.