The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has stated that the Federal Government is actively supporting private investors in the power sector, and is continuously working to ensure the business environment is conducive for businesses to thrive in the country.
Osinbajo, according to a statement issued by his media aide, Laolu Akande, said this at a media chat with journalists after a tour of the Azura Power Plant near Benin City, on day two of his working visit to Edo State.
Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant is a 450MW open cycle gas turbine power station.
While commending the commitment of operators in driving the project to conclusion ahead of schedule, Osinbajo stated that the additional 460MW to the National Grid has greatly improved the power situation in the country, while applauding the quality of the power plant.
He told the journalists “as you can see for yourselves, it is an excellent and wonderful project, which demonstrates the capacity of Nigerian engineering and enterprise.”
The Vice President mentioned government’s readiness to “provide support that we can, ensuring the environment is right for those who want to invest in the power sector”, adding that government would expect “Azura itself, to increase its capacity as time goes on, and then of course, we would see others who would come as well”.
He commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for the other various projects his administration has undertaken, including the commissioning of the 1,600 units of housing, the governor’s collaboration with Federal Government in ensuring the launch of the South-south Innovation Hub, amongst others.
Similarly, the Vice President added his visit involved seeing the beneficiaries of the different Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government.
In rounding off the visit, Vice President Osinbajo paid a courtesy call on the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo. The Oba, in his response, praised the VP saying “he is doing extremely very well.”
The Oba also asked Osinbajo to extend appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for declaring June 12 as Democracy Day and for honoring the winner of the 1993 presidential election, the late Chief M.K.O Abiola.
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