The quest to make Ogun State self-sufficient in energy is yielding results as the State government is set to partner Ambar Energia of Brazil to establish power plants in the State, marking a major milestone in renewable energy investment in Nigeria.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, while receiving a delegation from Ambar Energia led by its president, Marcelo Zanatta, at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said the State, as the industrial hub of the country, was in dire need of industrial power solutions to meet the high energy demand from numerous factories within its geographical location, as the current allocation was not adequate.
He noted that Ogun and Lagos States currently consume about 40 percent of the total 6,000 Megawatts of energy generated in the country, adding that with the nation’s demand projection of 45,000 Megawatts by 2030, Nigeria has significant potential which the company could explore.
"The power plant we are building now had four Megawatts before, but we are increasing that with the one we are currently building. The first phase is meant to be 30 Megawatts to serve State government offices, residential areas, and this is just a drop in the ocean.
"What we plan to do is build similar plants in the three zones of the State, and they will be like captive plants. We desire partners like Ambar to generate the required electricity and also assist in the distribution," the Governor noted.
He emphasised that Ogun was blessed with natural resources like gold, lithium, bitumen, silica, and limestone, and was also the largest producer of cement, cassava, poultry, and eggs,all of which require reliable power to unlock their full potential.
Governor Abiodun disclosed that the State is divided into Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta, Atan-Agbara, Remo, Imeko-Afon, and Aworo Industrial Clusters to make it easier for investors to site industries, aligning with the State’s ease of doing business in Nigerian states strategy.
He also highlighted that the construction of Africa’s biggest garment-producing company is set to start at the Special Economic Zones in Ogun, located at the Gateway International Airport, which will require 300 Megawatts of electricity for operations. With Ambar Energia’s track record — one of the first five energy companies in the world with 27 plants and a capacity to produce about 4.3 Gigawatts, Ogun State could further strengthen its position as Nigeria’s investment destination of choice.
"Our policy as a government is to work with the private sector. Our vision is to be an administration that creates an enabling environment, believing that by doing so, it will translate into economic prosperity and individual upliftment for our people. Government is an enabler of business, not a competitor, and by enabling businesses, they will employ citizens and create prosperity," he said.
Speaking on behalf of Ambar Energia, Marcelo Zanatta said they were ready to share their experience with Ogun and explore areas to invest. The delegation had earlier visited the Gateway International Airport, Olorunsogo Power Plant, and the Onijoganjogan Power Plant.
Through OgunInvest’s one-stop investment center, the State government continues to position itself as a hub for large-scale energy projects, making it easier for foreign investors to establish operations in record time.
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