By; IBRAHIM ADAMU, Kaduna
As part of efforts to bring dividends of democracy, the Niger State Government Green economy initiative has attracted international investors led by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), leading to the signing of the Green Economy and Energy Development Partnership agreement.
The agreement by the Governor of Niger State, Hon. Mohammed Umar Bago which is the first of its kind, is for the development of four unique projects includes; A Greenfield Hydroelectric Power Project, Mega Solar Parks in institutions and home solar system for 250,000 households out of the 800,000 households in Niger State.
It also include a 500 million liters Ethanol Plant with associated cropping of Maize /Sugarcane/Sweet Sorghum on 100,000 hectares of land in Niger state which is expected to produce over 500,000 tons of crops to feed the ethanol plant.
Also, the NNPCL plans to plant 135 million trees on 100,000 hectares of land as part of its commitment to climate protection and carbon sequestration towards its 2030 net zero targets.
This followed the commitment of the state government towards planting one billion trees on a one million hectares of land over the next eight years.
This initiative has already attracted the commitment of the NNPCL which is the largest oil and Gas company in Africa.
With this development, Niger state hopes to partner with other global oil and Gas, Shipping, Airlines, Cement companies, and the United Nations and its agencies in achieving the one billion trees target.
