VP Osinbajo Attends Niger State Investment Summit 2017 on 14/08/2017

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Video Transcript

The incredible potential of Niger State requires translation to jobs, to public revenues and prosperity for all. Niger State has the capacity not just to feed Nigeria, but even most of the African continent.

Niger State also has the key role to play in ensuring Nigeria’s energy sufficiency. With the three hydro-electric power stations in the country, Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro, all located in the State, there is clearly a natural affinity for environmentally sustainable projects. The State slogan, the “Power State” is very well earned, but must be further extended through investments in various aspects of the power value chain, including renewable energies.

I just want to make a point about renewable energy. In Wuna, a village just outside Abuja, we have launched a major solar power initiative, and we are doing so in several other villages. That village used to have no power at all, but now we have solar power, in each of the homes and schools. We also have solar power for processing of agricultural products in that area and the solar power is paid for by the villagers themselves.

They are happy to pay for it and to ensure they sustain it. Within the same village, there are many people who have now been trained to use and not just install solar power, but to repair solar panels and there is also a whole payment system around it.

We believe that the way forward in our country especially in States where radiation is very high such as Niger State, the way forward is solar power, we must do more solar power, we must use solar power in the villages, so that we can increase the capacity of the rural farmers to continue to process their goods and solar power will become cheaper and cheaper every day.

Again, just like Nigeria, this State is full of hidden surprises. Many may not know that Niger State has the largest National Park in Nigeria – the Kainji National Park which covers over 5,300 square kilometers of pristine forests, spectacular waterfalls and serene lakes. This presents an exceptional opportunity to develop a commercial ecosystem to attract international tourism to this beautiful State. Indeed, this State like most of Nigeria is largely an undiscovered jewel; a real treasure as they say “hiding in plain sight’.

Another key area that Niger State must take into account in drawing up its investment plans is to take advantage of its location closeness to Abuja, especially for attracting industry.