Agha Ibiam
2 July 2008
Lagos — The Executive Secretary of Kosofe Local Government Area, Mr. Ademuyiwa Adedeji, has flagged off the Ogudu-Ojota Solar Power Street Lights Project with a promise that when completed it will further develop the area.
Speaking during the turning of the sod, which was held opposite the local government, the Secretary said that solar energy street lighting project has served as a turning point in his life and the people of the community.
The project which was initiated by Africa-Asia Global Services Limited, is in partnership with the local government, Avronsyn Impex Limited as its technical partner and it is expected to be powered by Globacom.
Without mincing words, Adedeji said the execution of the project will be successful as it is expected to be completed in 10 months. He said the council has embarked on many projects and the solar power happens to be one of them. "Looking at the road and the development that have been coming up now, we discovered that the Ogudu-Ojota GRA road has turned to commercial centre and that is why it is paramount to restore the street lights in other to protect lives and property of the people.
"We have been witnessing a lot of armed robbery incidents in this locality. There was a day a building collapsed and while we were trying to rescue the people, armed robbers came to attack us because the place was not lighted up. That is why I think it is important we light up the area," he said.
Adedeji said the Ogudu-Ojota road is just the first phase of the project with Africa-Asia Limited which will commence from the local government. He noted that after the Ogudu road, other places like Biya street that leads to third mainland bridge, Anthony, Mende, Okupe, Harbour Works and Oworo roads will be in focus.
He said the local government has made a lot of inputs towards lighten of the area. But that according to him still remains personal. ìWe have made a lot of input, but however, it still remains personal. We have played a very vital role in the project. I have used my experience both in the private and the public sector to make sure that I make it work.
First of all, I called on the business community within the area. At that time, there were not very promising. But I have to demonstrate my administrative ability to get things done,î he said.
According to the Chairman of Africa-Asia Global Service Limited, Mr. Olubunmi Ogundare, the execution of the project is as a result of numerous researches done in many parts of the country that took them to Asian countries on why they are enjoying light and Nigeria is in darkness.
ìIt was the outcome of the research that gave us the exposure and we reasilise the causes is human error. Having done that, we now look at how we can execute the project in Nigeria. We decided to go into public-private partnership initiative which gave birth to the project operation to enlighten up Nigeria starting from kosofe local government. The Secretary actually welcomed us to us start the project in his locality. So that is why we are flagging off the project,î he said
Explaining the technicalities involve in the project, the Managing Director, Avron Impex Limited, Mr. R. Ramkumar said the world is gradually turning to solar power supply because of its cost effectiveness compared to hydro-generated power.
ìOne of the primary source and the cheapest and the most cost efficient that has been generated in the past years is the hydro-generated power. The second is the coal base power energy, wind energy though not consistent and the fourth is solar energy which is available and also in abundant. It is the one of the precious gift God has made available to mankind,î he said.
Ram said electricity is a socio-economic approach. He pointed out that it is not a business oriented or a commercial approach and that is what is followed globally. He explained that for the domestic consumption even in abroad as well as Nigeria, the cost of per kilowatt of power generated and supplied by primary power source that is PHCN to the domestic sector is always low compared to the industry sector because of affordability and the government tends to subsidies the cost.
He said people have to go for alternate energy which means raw materials could be the main source and there is no depletion. But in terms of technology, it is better to use solar, which is maintenance free. But what is expected to be done is to clean up the panel which can accumulate dust in three to four months, while a steady maintenance will be required.
He said in solar supply, there are no moving parts unlike PHCN which the power sources comes from the transformer that is located far away, and by the time it reaches the pole there is a consistent drop in voltage. And anything affecting the transformer will put the power off.
ìBut in solar energy, each pole is power generating of its own because of the panel that is mounted within and the battery component which stores the energy to supply for constant power supply,î Ram said.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
