U.S. firm General Electric and Northern States’ Governors Forum (NSGF) signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of five solar plants having a total capacity of 500 MW in the northern part of the country. The plants, with an individual capacity of 100 MW, will be built in the Borno, Kebbi, Niger and Taraba States.

The project is the pilot phase of the Northern Nigeria Global Economic Re-integration Programme which aims to improve the region’s economy by fostering the development of infrastructures, industrial sector, value chain, agricultural and trade sectors.

“The 19 Governors of the north jointly created this approach. We want to go beyond lamentation to provide solutions and we all know that power is key to industrial development. With power, we can create jobs, stimulate our economies and make life better for our people. The General Electric has over 120 years experience in energy solutions and they have been operating in Nigeria for over 50 years, we cannot have a better partner than GE,” said Kashim Shettima, Governor of Borno State, at the MOU signing ceremony.

Gwladys Johnson