As a fallout of the series of meetings held by the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Governor Abdullahi Sule has welcomed a United State based global energy and natural resources entrepreneur, Mr. Kweku Awotwi, co-founder of Cenpower Generation.

Governor Sule received Mr. Awotwi, at the Government House led by Ibrahim Abdullahi, Managing Director/CEO of Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA) on Tuesday.

Barely three weeks after his return from New York, Cenpower Generation, valued at over $1bn is the second investor to visit Governor Sule and to show interest in doing business in Nasarawa State.

The Governor expressed the readiness of his administration to partner with serious and committed investors like Cenpower Generation which has indicated interest in generating hydropower at Farin Ruwa waterfalls and dam, as well as in Doma dam.

He was particularly happy that Mr. Awotwi traveled all the way from the United States to Nasarawa State, even visiting both Farin Ruwa and Doma first before calling on him at the Government House.

“You traveled all the way to Lafia. Security was not an issue to you. You didn’t worry about that. Of course, you didn’t have any problem and you won’t have any problem. You feel secured to come all the way.

“I’m very happy that these are the kinds of serious investors that are knowledgeable in the area that we are looking forward to. I’m happy that you came,” he said.

While urging Cenpower Generation to continue with its good work in its chosen area, Governor Sule assured the investor that the Nasarawa State will partner with the company.

“Please continue with the good work that you are doing and we are here to partner with you. You have captured the message clearly when you said without power, even the mining operation can not be done.

“By the time you see the geography of our state, Doma dam is sitting next to Nasarawa LGA. Nasarawa LGA is where we have the huge potentials. Doma is having a border with the same Udegye where we are having a lot of discoveries. Transmission will be the easiest thing to do,” he said.

The Governor emphasized that basic infrastructure such as roads, power and water supply are critical to the industrialization agenda of his administration, informing his policy trust to execute road projects across identified areas of interest.

“When I also came to Nasarawa State as Governor and visited Farin Ruwa for the first time, I was blown away. Because I didn’t know that much about it, not until I became a Governor. I became very, very interested.

“We rushed to ensure that at least, the road network was constructed. Those are the infrastructure you are talking about. The infrastructure must be there. Power must be there. Water must there. That is the only way you can bring development. If you don’t have these basic infrastructure, no road, power and water, nobody will be interested. That is why we are taking one step at a time to arrive at our desired destination,” he stated.

He expressed concern that investors such as the largest lithium processing factory in Nasarawa Local Government Area are producing their power, which is a drawback.

“They are generating their own power. It is expensive. The reason why they are doing that is because they see the potentials are there and they can still make money. The moment the mines begin to deplete they will lose interest. Because the operational cost will become so high they will lose interest. But if you have your steady power, no problem. They can go all the way,” he added.

The Governor was particularly happy that Mr. Awotwi identified the potentials available in Nasarawa State, stressing that he was justified in also realizing these potentialities and working hard to realize such.

“Every time I hear about the potentials in Nasarawa State it goes to vindicate me that this is what I am seeing also. I’m not wrong, that we are seeing what we are seeing and somebody else from somewhere is seeing what we seeing,” he said.

Governor Sule assured Cenpower Generation of level playing field even though another foreign investor has also shown interest in the Farin Ruwa project.

“The reason why I am telling you is you may hear it. Because there are people based in Abuja that have relationship with a foreign company that came in and they have done all these feasibilities and a lot of that. But to me I have not sold it yet. It’s like having a very beautiful daughter that you have not yet giving in marriage and somebody will come and tell you I want to marry her and then you close the chapter and tomorrow he said I don’t want to marry her again then you are in trouble.

“You came in and even before disturbing me that you are interested in knowing where the things are, you are not even worried about seeing me. You went straight to check the things and everything is set. That is the seriousness an investor can show. After traveling from New York, you probably traveled to Ghana and then Nigeria and to Lafia and all these places. That means seriousness and that is what I am looking forward to. Therefore, I welcome you and I want you to continue,” he said.

In an opening remarks, Kweku A. Awotwi said he visited Nasarawa State in order to further consolidate on the earlier discussions they had with Governor Sule on the sidelines of the recently held UNGA in New York.

“I have a long background in both mining and power that we talked about it before. I am from Ghana. I have spent the last 30-35 years in mining and then from mining to power.

“When I came to your state, when I saw the Home of Solid Minerals, I felt right at home because this is some business I have been doing for the past 35 years. I started in Bauxite and aluminum in the United States and moved into gold mining. Both of those minerals use a lot of power. For 15 years, I was negotiating the power contracts for those two large companies in Ghana. We were spending $50m a year in my aluminum company and $30m in my gold company every year,” he said.

Awotwi pointed out that without power, Nasarawa State may not be able to attain her tremendous potentials in solid minerals.

“When I came in and I saw Nasarawa is the Home of Solid Minerals, everybody here will know that without power you cannot have minerals. Not just minerals, it’s 247 power. No mining company will come into your state and say I can do a mine without power.

“The first or second question they will ask is where is my 247 power. But if you have hydro, you have 247 power. Hydro runs day in, day out, night time, day time. Heat time, dry time. Hydro can run all the time. I see a great opportunity for Nasarawa that if you are going to promote solid minerals as a key to your economic development you must have 247 power,” he said.

He said that after visiting the Farin Ruwa and Doma dams, he is confident that the two dams together can produce 80 to 100 megawatt of power.

“Yesterday I went to Farin Ruwa. I saw the work there. This morning, before I came to see you, I went to Doma. What I can say Sir, is that there are a lot of potentials for power here. The two dams together can produce 80 to 100 megawatt of power and that will give a lot of encouragement to any mining business who wants to come here,” he stated.

Earlier, Ibrahim Abdullahi, Managing Director/CEO of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency, recalled the series of meetings held by Governor Sule on the sidelines of the UNGA with a view to attracting international investors to the state to invest in key areas of hydropower generation in Farin Ruwa and Doma dams.

“To indicate the seriousness and interest in Nasarawa State, Awotwi came into Nigeria barely three weeks after the meeting in New York to come and see the sites, to begin further conversations on how to start modalities for the implementation plan for these very important projects that are key to the industrialization of the state,” he said.