The Oyo State Government has dismissed claims by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, that its independent power projects are moribund, describing the assertion as false and misleading.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Dahud K. Shangodoyin, said the minister’s remarks failed to reflect the true state of ongoing energy developments in the state.
Shangodoyin clarified that the 11-megawatt Independent Power Project (IPP) at the State Secretariat, Agodi, had been completed and partially operationalised.
He disclosed that about 5MW of electricity was successfully commissioned and supplied to critical government infrastructure at the Secretariat for approximately five months during its testing phase.
The commissioner further explained that the project was executed under a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and fully financed by private investors, stressing that the state government did not commit capital funds to its development.
According to him, payments made by the government were strictly for electricity consumed during the testing period.
He, however, attributed the project’s current limitation to distribution constraints, noting that efforts were ongoing to expand supply beyond the Secretariat to residential and commercial corridors, including the Bodija–Total Garden axis.
He added that the government was working with relevant stakeholders to address structural and commercial gaps hindering wider distribution.
On the 12MW Ibadan Independent Power (Gas) Project, Shangodoyin said substantial progress had been recorded, with civil works, generator base infrastructure, and ancillary facilities at advanced stages.
He noted that transmission infrastructure, including concrete poles and distribution fittings, was also being installed across parts of Ibadan, adding that the project would serve public institutions, street lighting, and key economic clusters.
The commissioner described the initiative as a shift from an experimental power model to a more structured and scalable electricity solution, urging that public commentary on such projects be based on verified facts.
“The statement by the Honourable Minister of Power is clearly deficient in facts and does not reflect the true position of ongoing developments in Oyo State,” the statement read.
Adelabu had earlier criticised the state’s power initiatives, describing the 11KV project at the State Secretariat as a “moribund” venture and a “woeful failure.”
In a video circulating on social media, the minister alleged that despite significant public investment, the project had failed to deliver tangible benefits to residents.
“The only power initiative that the Oyo State government was trying to put together is moribund. Not a single kilowatt of power has been generated and supplied.
“It shows that it is not as easy as they think,” Adelabu said, challenging the state government to provide evidence of the project’s functionality.