Ekiti to generate power

Dapo Falade, Ado-Ekiti - 06.04.2008

EKITI State government has disclosed that work is at the advanced stage to generate its own power supply in the state in order to create an enabling environment for investment drives in the state.

The state deputy governor, Dr, Sikiru Lawal, made the disclosure during the week in Ado-Ekiti while speaking at the commissioning of the first phase of Emmajos Nigeria Limited multipurpose projects, a private investiment initiative in the state.

In his own address, the Ditrector/CEO of the company, Dr. Adedayo Ajayi, reminded the state government on the need to improve on electricity and water supply in the state, adding that this would enhance rapid industrialisation in the state.

"For a private-driven economy like that of your government to run a full circle of success, efforts must be made to improve the state of electricity and water supply in the state. The importance of cheap energy supply in the enhancement of industrial growth cannot be overemphasised".

Describing the slow pace of work at the 132KVA power project at Omisanjana, Ado-Ekiti as a major hindrance to socio-economic development, he admonished the Governor Segun Oni-led administration not to relent in its bid to make it a reality.

Advising the government to improve on the electrification of the community with 50 poles, Ajayi expressed the belief that providing enabling environment would encourage indigenes of the state both in the country and in the diaspora to return home and establish more companies to reduce rate of unemployment in the state.

The deputy governor also disclosed that the state-owned Fountain Hotel and Ikun Dairy Farm have been leased out to private investors in order to generate more job opportunities and improve the economic fortune of the state.