President Goodluck Jonathan has laid the foundation of the 1,000 megawatts Azura-Edo Power plant. The $1 billion gas-powered Independent Power Plant, IPP, which commenced in 2010, is the first Nigerian power project to benefit from the World Bank’s Partial Risk Guarantee structure, a scheme specifically created to meet the developing needs of emerging markets globally. The administration of governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State government partnered with Amaya Capital, the key promoters of Azura Power West Africa Limited.

The first phase of the project, which is 450-500 mega watts would be subsequently scaled up to 1,000 megawatts in the second phase.

According to Peter Okhiria, chief Press Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the Azura-Edo IPPIS expected to provide over 4,000 direct and indirect jobs for the people of the state during the construction and post-construction period of the project.

Hopefully, the Azura-Edo IPP would create the template for the successful development of more IPPs in Nigeria with Edo State playing a pioneering role in such project.