Gov. seeks UK partnership to boost power supply

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday said that the state was ready to explore the opportunities for partnership with the United Kingdom in the area of power supply.

Ambode spoke at the Lagos House, Marina, during a courtesy visit by the British Minister of State for Foreign Commonwealth Affairs and DFID, Mr Grant Shapps, and the British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Ray Kyles.

Ambode lauded the intervention of the UK DFID through solar energy in the state.

He expressed optimism that it would prove a viable energy alternative to more rural areas in the state.

Ambode also reiterated his administration’s commitment to partner with willing investors to take power supply to communities in need of it.

“I will like you to also know that other areas where we believe that we can partner together is in the area of energy, that is something of utmost interest to us here.

"We will like to thank you for what we have done together in terms of solar related energy and I am happy that we are going into the phase two of that project.

"I will like to commend you for taking it up so quickly in the life of this administration.

“I believe strongly that it is one major alternative to the challenges that are actually facing most people in the remote areas and the poorer people in our own society.

"I also believe that we can accelerate that relationship and be able to use it as a platform to touch lives of our people and create jobs," he said.

The governor assured the visitors that his administration would sustain the relationship.

He said that the state government was working round the clock to provide an enabling environment for investors to come into the state and do business with ease.

“We believe strongly that setting up the Office of Overseas Affairs and Investment is one right step in that direction,'' Ambode said.

Earlier, Shapps noted that the economic possibilities that abound in the state coupled with its population made it one to reckon with.

“There are a lot of exciting opportunities and that is why I am so pleased to be with you and to make use of these opportunities.

"We were just discussing about trade and the ability for our two countries to work closely together and I think the opportunities for all our citizens to learn from experience in each of our countries is second to none," he said.