On Monday, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd. ), inaugurated the $16 million Kano Solar Power Project funded by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority.
According to a statement issued by the NSIA, Buhari expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done with the installation of the solar power plants.
On the occasion of his inauguration, he was accompanied by Kano State Governor Umar Ganduje, Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning Zainab Ahmed, Chairman of the NSIA Board of Directors Farouk Gumel, and Managing Director of NSIA Aminu Umar-Sadiq, among others.
According to the statement, the President appointed the NSIA as funds and project manager with a specific mandate to conceptualize, develop, build, and operate a 10MW solar project on a 24 hectare parcel of land in Kumbotso Local Government, Kano State.
It was stated that the Federal Government, Kano State Government, and the host Local Government – Kumbotso jointly owned Haske Solar Company Limited, whose name means light in Hausa.
“The project is currently the largest grid-connected solar PV plant in Nigeria and is proof of successful mid-sized solar PV deployment,” according to the NSIA.
It stated that the project would catalyze growth in the power sector by demonstrating that large-scale renewable projects could be successfully completed.
“The project also strengthens Nigeria’s credentials in the fight against climate change and our commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060,” according to the agency.
Speaking at the event, Umar-Sadiq stated that the 10MW Kano Solar Project would have significant socioeconomic and environmental impacts by providing local industries and other consumers with access to clean, affordable, and sustainable energy.
He stated that the project created approximately 2,000 direct and indirect jobs in the surrounding community, and that the plant included more than 21,000 solar PV panels, two 6MVA transformers, and 52 inverters, as well as a warehouse and storage building, control room, office, and workshop.
