By Abiodun Esan
Ilorin – Kwara Government has signed a technical agreement with two firms, Riccofortezza Steven Energy Limited and Rubited Power Limited for the provision of solar-powered street light in Ilorin Township.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the signing of the agreement was for the implementation of ‘Operation Light-Up Kwara’ (LUK), an innovative solar-powered street light project.
Speaking at the signing on Thursday Ilorin, Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed said that the street light project will enhance security, create jobs, boost businesses, facilitate technology/skill transfer and ensure extended commerce hours for traders.
The governor added that LUK will herald the beginning of a green economy in the state.
Ahmed described the project as an investment inflow under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
According to him, the state government will not commit any fund to the project at this point, but will pay back the contract sum over a 10-year period.
In his remark, the Chairman of Riccofortezza Steven Energy Limited, Mr Sunny Akpoyibo, said that the street lights will be powered through solar power tunnels.
He noted that this was the first time such technology will be deployed anywhere in Nigeria.
Akpoyibo also emphasised the job creation potential of LUK in terms of civil, operational and maintenance components of the project.
According to him, the project will cover 74.58km of roads, cutting across 33 routes within Ilorin Township.
He, however, stated that 209 poles will be erected under the pilot phase of the project, which will cover eight routes within the state capital.
NAN also reports that the 33 routes include Tipper Garage-University road, Tanke-Umaru Audi Junction – Tipper Garage Roundabout, Umaru Audi – Fate roundabout, Ahmadu Bello avenue-Sulu Gambari road, and Taiwo road (Emir’s road junction-General roundabout).
Others are Wahab Folawiyo (Unity road), Saraki road (Agric roundabout-Fate roundabout) and New Yidi road (Unity Junction-Fossil Oil).
Other routes that will be covered include Pakata road, Michael Imodu-Offa Garage roundabout, Ipaye road, Illofa road, Oja Oba-Maraba road, Henry George-Sokoto road junction, Balogun Fulani-Gambari junction, Geri Alimi-Adeta road, Unity roundabout-FCMB Maraba road, among others.