Oyo Govt Rebuts Power Minister over Electricity Projects

The Oyo State Government has issued a strong response to what it described as a misrepresentation of facts by Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, regarding ongoing power projects in the state.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Prof. Dahud K. Shangodoyin, the government said it was necessary to set the record straight to avoid misleading the public on the progress and structure of its energy initiatives.

The government clarified that the 11-megawatt Independent Power Project (IPP) in Ibadan was successfully completed and partially operationalised.

According to the statement, about 5MW of electricity was commissioned and supplied to critical infrastructure at the Agodi Secretariat for approximately five months during its testing phase.

It explained that the project was executed under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), emphasizing that the state government did not release capital funds for its construction, as it was fully financed through private investment. Payments made by the government, it noted, were strictly for electricity consumed during the testing period and not for project execution.

The government further stated that the primary challenge encountered was not power generation but limitations in distribution infrastructure.

It highlighted the need to extend electricity supply beyond the Secretariat to key residential and commercial areas, including the Bodija–Total Garden axis. Efforts, it added, are ongoing with project partners to address these gaps.

On the 12MW Ibadan Independent Power Gas Project, the state described it as a more sustainable and technically advanced initiative aligned with its long-term energy strategy.

The statement revealed that significant progress has been made on the project, with civil works, generator base infrastructure, and other supporting facilities already underway. It also noted ongoing transmission developments, including the installation of concrete poles and distribution components across strategic locations in Ibadan.

Unlike the earlier project, the government said the new gas-powered initiative is designed to deliver broader impact, targeting public institutions, street lighting systems, and key economic clusters across the state.

The Oyo State Government stressed that while it welcomes constructive criticism, such commentary must be based on verified facts. It concluded that the minister’s remarks were deficient in accuracy and did not reflect the true state of ongoing power sector developments in Oyo.
The statement was officially endorsed by Prof. Shangodoyin on behalf of the state government.