By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The full implementation of an innovative solar-powered streetlight project of the Kwara State government called Light-Up Kwara (LUK) is set to begin in June this year. This followed the successful pilot of the scheme.
It was gathered that the roll-out plan for the Solar Farm Tunnels (SFTs), which will be for the dual arm poles, will be released next week.
In February 2017, the state government signed a technical agreement with two firms, Riccofortezza-Asteven Energy Limited and Rubitec Power Limited for the execution of the Light-Up Kwara (LUK) project.
The two firms were given the mandate to handle the project on build, finance, operate and transfer basis under the state Infrastructure Development Fund (IFK).
A statement issued by the Kwara State Public Private Partnership Bureau (KP3) and signed by Mr Yomi Ogunsola, the Chief Economic Assistant to Kwara State Governor, said while KP3 is coordinating the project, the State Ministry of Energy is supervising and also monitoring it.
Mr Ogunsola said that the pilot phase of the project, which began few weeks ago, has been completed and valuable feedback from the public has been incorporated into the forthcoming roll-out.
Providing further details of the roll-out installation plan, Dr Dickson Aleroh, the Managing Director of Riccofortezza-Asteven Energy Limited, one of the two firms executing the LUK project, noted that the civil work component of the project, which commenced yesterday, will last till 10 June.
He added that the installation of single arm streetlight poles across Ilorin metropolis will begin on 12 June.
Dr Aleroh disclosed that his company will install a total of 341 poles covering 9.7km across 11 routes within Ilorin metropolis.
He listed the routes to include Admiralty Drive, Ipaye road, Iloffa road, Abdulkadri road GRA, Adelodun Street-Reservation road (Flower Garden) and Aderemi Adeleye Street.
Others are Abdulkarim Adisa Street, Bishop Court Close (Simon Okedi–GTB) Tanke Junction, Ogbeha Street (Simon Okedi-Ukpabi Asika-Umaru Audi road), Henry George-Sokoto road junction-General Hospital roundabout, and Stadium road.
Adedapo Adesanya