By Golok Nanmwa
Plateau state Governor Simon Lalong on Tuesday said his administration is determined to ensure that development is taken to rural dwellers in the state.
Lalong made this known while speaking at the submission of the report of the committee on energy in Jos
He said his government’s policy is hinged on total commitment to improving overall access to energy, especially to rural populace where a larger proportion of the citizens of the state reside. This, expectedly, should cater for the short, medium and long terms energy needs of the state.
“Today marks a major milestone in the life of this administration, as we take another bold step towards realizing one of our core mandates under the rescue mission. We will recall that this committee was earlier set up by the government to look into the challenges of the provision of energy, particularly electricity to the people. It is indeed a fundamental fact that virtually every economic activity in this digital age is dependent on energy for it to thrive, hence the need to get our energy policy right.”
” The provision of energy is, therefore, key to the realization of the 5 policy thrusts of the administration, because energy is a very fundamental resource in driving the economic growth and social development of any nation. ”
” In order to achieve our energy policy objectives, the government came up with three key policy documents on energy, which serve as an eloquent testimony to our desire to turn things around in the energy sector as follows: First, the Plateau State Policy and Strategy on Renewable Energy. Second, the Plateau State Rural Electrification Plan; and third, the Plateau State Guidelines for Mini-Grids PPP Development.”
‘The provision of Solar Mini-Grids to Demshin and Angwan Rina communities of Shendam LGA, which was done under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement are indicative of the fact that our efforts have started yielding the needed fruits. Right now, the two communities are today enjoying constant, reliable, clean energy and improved social lives.”
” As I mentioned earlier, the provision of energy poses a national challenge and, while the federal government is making relentless efforts in addressing the problem, it behooves us as a government to think outside the box by exploring other alternatives within our environs towards complementing the erratic and limited energy supply by existing service providers. Thus, the government constituted this committee, by and large, with a view to not just avoid the mistakes of the past but to put behind us the energy challenge and to engender the state’s economic development, promote the creation of wealth among the people and other social services delivery.”
“Let me reiterate at this juncture that government is totally committed to ensuring that our energy challenge is consigned to the dustbin of history in the not-too-distant future. Accordingly, as we receive the committee report, the government is poised to meticulously scrutinize and implement the recommendations as possible solutions to the energy challenge that we face today in order to cushion the negative effects of lack of energy.”
“. To this end, and since everyone is a stakeholder in the Plateau project, I urge all the people of Plateau State to join hands with government by giving us the maximum support so as to move the state to the next level. This is very necessary if we must fulfill the dreams of our founding father’s door sustainable development.”
” i will not end this address without commending the members of the committee for sacrificing your time, talents and energy to do a thorough job. It is indeed the height of patriotism by your contributions to the progress and development of our state at a time like this when your services are needed to pull the state out of her energy demands. As a continuous call to service, let me state that we are not yet done with you; So I urge all of you to avail us your patriotic services especially at the implementation stage or in any other capacity in the future.”
