http://www.conelle.net/apps/blog/entries/show/7229029-lagos-state-governor-baabatunde-fashola-commissions-10mw-island-power-project-

Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Wednesday formally commissioned the 10 Megawatts Island Power Project with a call for an urgent completion of the implementation of the nation’s Power Sector Programme. Speaking at the Cable Street, Lagos location of the power plant, Governor Fashola who pledged that his administration would embrace the power sector reform programme enunciated by President Goodluck Jonathan, however, declared, “I hope that all those entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the power sector programme will find the courage, urgency and dedication that is necessary to finally free up the sector and let private capital come into it”. Governor Fashola said the 10 MW Island Power Project is a modest beginning from which the administration intends to expand to many areas in the Lagos Island and ultimately the entire State adding that the State Government has already conducted a power audit for 500 buildings in the Central Business District (CBD). He added that an IPP of about 114 Megawatts would be needed to power the 500 buildings in the CBD, stressing that already a group of investors are showing interest in the project. The Governor who was very assertive about the intention of the Government to lead from the front informed that with the Island Power Project Government will save about 46 percent of the revenue of what would have been spent on diesel and generators as well as poisonous fumes which may reduce life expectancy. He said what may prove to be a challenge to the plan is how to move gas which would be used to power the IPP from Ijora across the lagoon to the Island, which the government is committed to surmounting. Governor Fashola also said another benefit of the new IPP is that it will take off about 30 generators with capacity ranging from 10 KVA to 100 KVA. The Governor also informed that the State Government has commissioned a power audit for Shomolu which is unarguably the capital of printing business in Nigeria to provide independent power supply to the area adding, however, that the only challenge for the project is land as the government will need about 4000 square metres of land for the project. According to him, a Power audit of the State Secretariat Alausa is almost completed and procurement will soon commence, adding that it is expected that the public power supply not taken up will be deployed by the Power Holding Company ( PHCN) to members of the public who need it. Also nearing completion Governor Fashola said is the power audit for the Matori Industrial Estate to provide power to manufacturers. He enumerated the structures and areas to benefit from the Island Power Project to include the Lagos High Court, J.I.C Taylor Magistrate Courts, the Island Maternity Hospital, the Lagos House, Marina and street lights in at least 20 streets on the island.