IBADAN, Oyo State β
The 2027 governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Oyo State, Hon. Akim Adebola Yusuf, has outlined plans for a diversified electricity-generation system combining hydropower, solar energy and other generation sources to improve power supply and reduce electricity costs across the state.
Adebola, who has a 25-year banking background, said his experience in project development and financing had exposed him to power projects across several African countries, including The Gambia, Guinea, Ghana and Sierra Leone.
He said his experience included involvement in a solar power project in Guinea, a coal-fired thermal power project in Ghana, electricity-generation projects in Sierra Leone and floating power plants.
Adebola said Oyo State needed to develop a stronger energy base if it was to achieve significant industrialisation.
βYou canβt industrialize without a strong energy base,β he said.
Hydropower from Ikere Gorge
A central component of his proposed strategy is the development of hydropower from the Ikere Gorge Dam on the Ogun River.
According to Adebola, the state would explore the natural water resources around the dam, including the waterfall and water flow into the basin, as part of a broader electricity-generation programme.
He also proposed the development of solar fields, particularly to serve rural communities and help reduce dependence on more expensive electricity sources.
Adebola said the proposed solar system would be designed to supply electricity directly to homes without relying on battery storage.
βCompositeβ generation system
The candidate described the proposed approach as a composite power-generation system, combining green electricity with other forms of generation to improve reliability and affordability.
He argued that increased local generation could help reduce the reliance of households and businesses on petrol- and diesel-powered generators.
βWith a mix of green electricity and other forms of generation, we can bring prices down,β he said.
Adebola further said his administration would seek to provide sufficient electricity to support industries across the state’s local government areas.
He suggested that industrial development would require substantial power capacity at the local level, while acknowledging that the exact generation requirement would depend on the scale and nature of industrial activity.
Power as foundation for industrial growth
The NDC candidate linked his electricity proposal directly to his broader economic vision for Oyo State, arguing that reliable and affordable power would be necessary to attract and sustain industries.
He said the objective would not simply be to increase generation capacity, but to ensure that electricity was available, reliable and affordable enough for households and businesses to reduce their dependence on private generators.
Adebola also pointed to his banking and project-development background as part of the experience he would bring to financing and implementing major infrastructure projects.
Adebola emerged as the NDC’s Oyo State governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 election. Reports on his emergence identify job creation, industrial development, agriculture, education and youth empowerment among his broader priorities.
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