The Niger state government has signed green economy initiative agreement with the Nigeria National Petroluem Company Limited (NEPAL) that would attracted international investors to the state.
The agreement which is the first of its kind in the country will lead to Green Economy and Energy Development Partnership agreement for the development of four unique projects in the state.
Under the agreement, the NNPC Limited is to develop a Greenfield Hydroelectric power project as well as a Mega Solar parks in institutions across the state as well as home solar system for 250,000 households across the state.
They are also to develop a 500 million liters Ethanol Plant with associated cropping of Maize /Sugarcane/Sweet Sorghum on 100,000 hectares of land in Niger state to produce over 500,000 tons of crops to feed the ethanol plant.
In addition, the NNPC Limited plans to plant 135 million trees on 100,000 hectares of land as part of its commitment to climate protection and carbon sequestration towards its 2030 net zero targets.
The state governor, Mohammed Umar Bago who disclosed this in Abuja reinstated his commitment to planting 1 billion trees on a 1 million hectares of land over the next 8 years.
He disclosed that this plan has already gotten the commitment of NNPC which is the largest oil and Gas company in Africa.
He said the state hopes to Partner with other global oil and Gas, Shipping, Airlines, Cement companies, and the United Nations and its agencies in achieving the one billion trees target.