Gombe state governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya says his administration will spare no effort in taking advantage of the renewable energy plan of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC which is designed to boost alternative power supply and biofuel source in the country.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya stated this when he granted audience to the Group General Manager, Renewable Energy Division of the NNPC, Dr. David Balarabe Ture who led a team from the corporation on a tour of designated areas for the sugarcane fuel ethanol project in Gombe state.
The Governor said the decision by his administration to constitute a committee on the bio fuel project was consequent upon his discussions with the former Group General Manager of the Division which placed him on a vantage position to take informed decision towards the realization of the project.
He assured the GGM that his administration will work against time and do all it takes to see to the actualization of the project in view of its immense benefit to the people of the state.
“And we know that once we are able to do this at least the major thing that is a hindrance to the springing up of industries and commercial activities which is power can be addressed. By the records I got, we could have up to 60 megawatts which will serve not only Gombe but the whole of the Northeast”.
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Governor Inuwa Yahaya welcomed the suggestion that his administration takes a second look at the feasibility study of the project and the Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA.
“I know for sure that at the highest level people like you and even the GMD are interested in this project, equally, when I visited Mr. President, we talked about this project. You know the whole of the belt from Dadin kowa to Gombe Abba is arable and irrigable land and there is no reason whatsoever that we cannot utilize it to improve on our Agricultural and other potentials for the benefit of the common man “.
He said in view of the importance his administration attaches to the sugarcane fuel ethanol project, he will personally keep constant tap on developments to monitor its progress.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya used the occasion to express appreciation to the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority, saying both the state government and the authority operate as allies on this and many other projects.
He commended the partnership among the Gombe state government, NNPC and the Upper Benue River Development Authority, noting that such collaboration can help in improving the socio-economic development and fortunes of Gombe state.
The Group General Manager, Renewable Energy Division of the NNPC, Dr. David Bala Ture observed that despite the efforts put in place in the last 15 years, there is little or no progress in respect to the actualization of the project in the State. He however commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for showing interest and political will to see to the actualization of the project.
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Chairman of the Gombe state committee on biofuel project and Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Zubair Muhammad Umar said the state government had since allocated twenty thousand hectares of land in response to a request made by the NNPC for the smooth implementation of the project, including the plantation and the factory.
Barrister Zubair Umar said his committee had taken the Group General Manager, Renewable Energy Division of the NNPC and his team round the designated areas for the project which are located in Kupto and Malleri in Funakaye and Kwami Local Government areas respectively.
He expressed optimism that with the political will of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and the enthusiasm shown by the NNPC, the project will come to fruition soon.
Members of the Gombe state committee on biofuel are Commissioner of Justice and Attorney-General, Barrister Zubair Muhammad Umar ( Chairman), Commissioner of Energy Resources, Alhaji Shehu Madugu and his counterpart in Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Dishi Kupto.
Others are members of the House of Assembly representing Kwami East, Funakaye West, and Funakaye South constituencies as well as chairmen of Kwami and Funakaye Local Government Councils.
(Editor : Paul Akhagbemhe)
