The Oyo State Government has strongly refuted what it described as a misrepresentation of facts by Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, regarding the status of electricity projects in the state.

In an official statement issued by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Prof. Dahud K. Shangodoyin, the government stated that the remarks attributed to the minister do not accurately reflect the reality of ongoing power initiatives in Oyo.

The state government clarified that the 11 megawatt Independent Power Project was successfully completed and partially operationalised. According to the statement, about five megawatts of electricity were commissioned and supplied to critical government infrastructure at the Agodi Secretariat for approximately five months during its testing phase.

It further explained that the project operated under a Power Purchase Agreement arrangement, emphasising that no capital funds were released by the state government for its construction, as it was entirely financed through private investment. Payments made by the government, it noted, were strictly for electricity consumed during the testing period and not for project execution.

Addressing concerns about the project’s limitations, the government stated that the challenge was not solely in generation but in distribution expansion. It identified the need to extend supply beyond the Secretariat to key residential and commercial areas, including the Bodija to Total Garden axis, adding that efforts are ongoing with project partners to resolve the issues.

On ongoing developments, the government highlighted progress on the 12 megawatt Ibadan Independent Power Gas Project, describing it as a more sustainable and technically robust initiative aligned with the state’s long-term energy strategy.

According to the statement, the project has reached an advanced stage, with civil works, generator base infrastructure and ancillary facilities well underway. Transmission infrastructure is also progressing, including the installation of concrete poles and distribution fittings across strategic locations in Ibadan.

The government added that, unlike the earlier project, the new initiative is designed to serve a broader spectrum, including public institutions, street lighting systems and key economic clusters across the state.

Describing the project as a transition from experimental power supply to a more structured, scalable and integrated electricity solution, the government stressed the importance of accurate public discourse.

It maintained that while constructive criticism is welcome, such engagements must be based on verified information, insisting that the minister’s claims were deficient in facts and do not reflect the true position of ongoing developments in Oyo State.

It maintained that while constructive criticism is welcome, such engagements must be based on verified information, insisting that the minister’s claims were deficient in facts and do not reflect the true position of ongoing developments in Oyo State.