Your N8.5bn Power Project Failed Abysmally, Makinde Told

The Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation has criticized Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for his administration's continued reliance on fuel-powered generators to power streetlights, attributing it to their inability to generate electricity. The organisation's media and publicity director, Bisi Oladele, stated that Makinde's excuse was not only dishonest but also demonstrated a lack of competence and leadership failure.

Following President Bola Tinubu's inauguration, the Electricity Act 2023 was enacted, granting states the ability to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity, addressing the energy needs of their residents. Oyo State, alongside 16 other states, has seized this opportunity to attract investors, license projects, and develop sustainable power solutions.

However, Oyo State's $8.5 billion Independent Power Project (IPP) collapsed, with no electricity generated, despite spending billions on the project, which was ultimately terminated by the Makinde administration. The failure of power projects in other states, such as Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Ekiti, contrasts sharply with Oyo State's situation.

The people of Oyo State deserve to know why the project did not provide a sustainable source of electricity, including for critical infrastructure like streetlights and government buildings. The governor's frequent travel abroad in pursuit of an elusive national network for his presidential ambitions is further questioned in light of the unfunctional diesel-powered streetlights, leaving major roads dark at night.

The $8.5 billion IPP is seen as a job creation scheme for cronies, with generators being replaced every six months. The Sharafadeen Alli Campaign Organisation asserts that blaming external forces for problems within the governor's control is humiliating, given his self-proclaimed electrical engineering background. The organization emphasizes that a comprehensive electricity strategy, including solar-powered streetlights, embedded generation, renewable energy, and private-sector investment, is necessary for Oyo State, which will be a priority for Makinde upon his anticipated return to the governorship.