TheCable

The Niger state government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to develop renewable energy and low-carbon solutions projects.

Umaru Bago, governor of Niger, disclosed the development on Wednesday in a post on X.

“I had the honour alongside the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alh. Abubakar Usman on behalf of the Niger State Government signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Cooperation in the prevention and development of renewable energy and low carbon solution projects,” the post reads.

The governor said Olalekan Ogunleye, NNPC’s executive vice-president for gas, power and new energy; and Kanayochukwu Odoe, managing director of new energy limited, signed the MoU on behalf of the corporation in Abuja.

Bago said the collaboration aims to drive the development of four unique projects — a greenfield hydroelectric power project; mega solar parks in institutions and home solar systems for 250,000 households out of the 800,000 households in Niger state.

Others are the establishment of a 500 million litres ethanol plant with associated cultivation of maize, sugarcane, and sweet sorghum on 100,000 hectares of land in the state, producing over 500,000 tons of crops to fuel the ethanol plant.; and NNPC’s commitment to plant 135 million trees on 100,000 hectares of land as part of its 2030 net zero targets and climate protection efforts.

Since he assumed office on May 29, Bago has taken initiatives to drive environmental sustainability in Niger state.

The governor said the initiative would span various sectors, including renewable energy, transportation, infrastructure, agriculture, inclusivity, and tourism.