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…as 6MW hydropower plant goes private under PPP
From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Federal Government has handed over the 6-megawatt Ikere Gorge Hydropower Plant, located in Iseyin, Oyo State, to Quaint Power and Infrastructure Nigeria Limited under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
The handover ceremony was performed in Iseyin by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, alongside the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.
Professor Utsev described the concession as a major step by the Federal Government to boost electricity generation through private sector participation. He said the move would help close infrastructure financing gaps while advancing sustainable and renewable energy development.
He explained that the Ikere Gorge project is part of a broader collaboration between the Ministries of Water Resources and Power aimed at harnessing Nigeria’s vast hydropower potential.
Utsev listed other hydropower projects under the collaboration to include the Dadinkowa and Kashimbila plants, which are already operational, as well as the Gurara Hydropower Plant, expected to commence operations in the second quarter of 2026.
On his part, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, said the concession marked a new chapter in repositioning the nation’s water infrastructure for clean energy production.
According to him, the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on expanding energy access, strengthening power sector reforms and attracting private investment.
Chief Adelabu also highlighted key reforms in the power sector, including the Electricity Act 2023, improved generation capacity and ongoing metering initiatives across the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of Quaint Power and Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Bolaji Durodola, assured that the company would efficiently manage the hydropower component of the project and contribute to job creation in the host communities.
Both ministers assured that the Federal Government would maintain strict oversight of the project to ensure compliance with safety, environmental and operational standards.
The Ikere Gorge Dam, originally developed for water supply and irrigation, is now being optimised to support renewable power generation as part of efforts to diversify Nigeria’s energy mix.
