Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has pledged to accelerate the implementation of renewable energy projects in the state by addressing delays and reactivating existing agreements with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

Otti made the commitment on Thursday when he received a delegation from the REA, the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles at the Government House in Umuahia.

According to a statement issued by the REA on Friday, the governor said Abia had significant potential to advance renewable energy deployment and assured the delegation that outstanding issues affecting the implementation of projects would be resolved.

“Just watch us and see what will happen in the next 14 days. It’s very interesting to watch this presentation. I would like to have another session with you because some of the data you captured here are what I need to work with. You can be sure that you will hear from us within the next 14 days, and the lowest-hanging fruit is this initiative covering ten states,” Otti said.

The governor also disclosed that the state had recorded progress in the deployment of electric buses, noting that the initiative had yielded positive results for Abia’s green energy programme.

He further announced that a state focal person would be appointed immediately to strengthen coordination between the state government and the federal agencies involved in the projects.

Speaking during the meeting, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the REA, Dr Abba Aliyu, said the agency had mapped communities across Nigeria that require rural electrification.

Aliyu disclosed that 1,000 mini-grids were currently being deployed across various states as part of efforts to expand access to electricity.

He noted that a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the REA and Abia State last year had encountered implementation delays.

However, he assured the state government that the agency was prepared to provide the necessary support once Abia demonstrated renewed commitment to the projects.

The meeting was attended by the Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Strategy Officer, Mr Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, as well as members of the Abia State Executive Council.

Arinze Nwafor