Mohammed Shosanya
Former Managing Director of Jos Distribution Company,Engr Hashim Ibrahim Bakori,has emphasized the need to engage the Russians for the commencement of a nuclear power station in the northern part of Nigeria,with a view to saving it from the current blackout.
Bakori’s suggestion was sequel to the present blackout in the region following the recent collapse of the national grid and vandalization of power equipment
The lingering darkness in the north is alreading taking heavy toll on the economic activities in the region.
The former Jos DisCo boss,who posited that the north has no business with energy poverty, also suggested the nedc to engage the Chinese for the commencement of a coal-fired power station
He further reasoned that there should be converted efforts in the North to engage the western European nations for the commencement of Mambila, Makurdi or Lokoja confluence HPS .
According to him,the various river basin dams lying waste in the region can be utilized for HPS and agriculture just as India did.
He added:”We have sunshine everywhere.Immediately start with 50MW PV farms in each of the affected 13 states …50 x 13 gives 650MW
“Again look for international support and funding from investors and development partners to install a 40MW type of LPG gas virtual line feed generators to replicate what NNPC did in Maiduguri during the PMB administration.This gives 40x 13,another 650MW”
On funding for the initiatives,which he said can be delivered in two years,Bakori hinted that the region’s wealthiest individuals, politicians, technocrats, diaspora professionals can be individually contacted for necessary assistance.
He also said,banks consortium can be persuaded to finance some locations for the initiatives.
He implored state governments and local government councils to redouble their efforts in producing electricity,rather than spending heavily on white elephant projects like roads and flyovers.
He added that donor countries ,agencies and individuals can also help finance the laudable initiative.
