*Project To Create 720 Jobs – Shuluwa
MAKURDI – Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, has described the waste 2 energy project partnership agreement entered into between the State Government and SectorLeads Limited, as a watershed.
The Governor who disclosed this while supervising the signing of the partnership agreement at Government house, Makurdi, on Wednesday, noted that the agreement was signed taking into cognizance the variables that would impact the environment.
Meanwhile, the Director General (DG) Bureau for Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation, Ms Benita Shuluwa, said the project would create 420 direct jobs and 300 indirect jobs.
Represented at the occasion by the Deputy Governor, Barr Sam Ode, Governor Alia, stated that ahead of the commencement of the project, government has ensured due diligence in all aspects.
He explained that, “The conversation around this particular project has been quite extensive to the extent that all the variables that will impact on the environment and wellbeing of the state have diligently been considered.
“We have also ensured due diligence in all aspects of this project, including the legal aspects, which the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice and Public Order has taken care of.
“The ceremony we are going to perform here today, marks a watershed of the marriage between Benue State of Nigeria and Sector Leads. We are going to execute our agreement, which will guide the relationship between the two and and also the operational guidelines of the project that we have in focus”, he stated.
While he pointed out that the agreement would ensure a seamless working relationship between Benue State Government and SectorLead Limited, he added that the waste to energy project would also boost the economy of the state.
Earlier, the Director General (DG) Bureau for Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation, Ms Benita Shuluwa, said the project was fully funded by Sector Lead Limited with support from the State Government.
She said, “I’m glad to state that this project is fully funded by our partners with support from the State. It is a project worth $194m.
“This project stems from global climate changes the world as a whole has been experiencing and the need to be creative in protecting our environment, whilst at the same time promoting economic development. It is a project that allows us to kill one bird with two stones.
“Collating waste from the landfills/dump sites and converting the waste to energy and multiple by products including biogas, bio fertilizers, 40MW power, etc via an automatic waste separation process.
“It is a project that is set to treat and revegetate our dump sites and landfills for agriculture and/or infrastructure gains. It also seeks to attract the much talked about carbon credit to Benue State, thereby boosting our IGR (Internally Generated Revenue)
“It is a project that is also set to create about 420 direct jobs and 300 indirect jobs”, she stated.
In his remarks at the occasion, the Chief Executive Officer, SectorLead Limited, Adedayo Mustapha, the company was committed to the project and commended the Benue Government for their cooperation so far.