Saki, a community in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, is set to enjoy a minimum of 22 hours of electricity supply daily following the official signing of a 10-megawatt interconnected solar-hybrid power project between De-Janees Concept Limited and Hexing Electrical Company Limited.
The signing ceremony, held in Lagos recently, was witnessed by the top management teams of both firms, with promises to provide reliable electricity to communities that have long suffered from poor grid supply.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of De-Janees Concept Ltd, Engr Isaiah Fatokun, noted that the project aligns with the renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He confirmed that the De-Janees and partners have secured approvals from the Rural Electrification Agency and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.
According to him, the partnership with Hexing will deliver a 2 MW solar power solution through the Sango feeder, designed to power 4,000 homes.
He emphasised that the innovative project would stimulate economic growth, energise local businesses, revolutionise education, and improve the overall quality of life in Saki, adding that the partnership with Hexing also focuses on creating jobs, supporting long-term employment, and promoting environmental sustainability.
“This initiative showcases the transformative power of strategic collaboration, paving the way for a more prosperous and energy-secure future,” he said.
He also extended gratitude to the Okere of Saki land, Oba Khalid Olabisi, for his support, as well as the REA, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, the Oyo State Government, Stanbic IBTC, and Unity Bank.
Recalling the project’s inception, Fatokun explained that De-Janees initially applied to REA last year for a mini-grid licence.
He said, “After beginning documentation, the company transitioned into a Renewable Energy Service Company with the right technical partners, funding, and target communities. The REA first approved a project in Kano, but we rejected it on technical and commercial grounds.
“We later got fresh approval after conducting the feasibility study and got the scope of a viable electrification project in Saki, covering 15 communities with a combined population of over 500,000.
“Technical feasibility studies revealed over 100 filling stations, hotels with more than 100 rooms, schools, and police stations in the area, all existing with inadequate or no power supply. Following this, we secured three land parcels for the project and obtained the necessary approvals from NERC and IBEDC.”
Fatokun added that a Non-Disclosure Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding were later signed with IBEDC, allowing the use of the existing distribution transformer network, including lines and transformers.
“IBEDC granted us the approval to generate, distribute, and recover revenue from the project over 15 years. Based on current estimates, the existing distribution infrastructure in Saki has a capacity of 9–10 MW—enough to supply the entire town with 24-hour power,” the GM stated.
He, therefore, assured that if energy demand increases after project commissioning, the capacity can be scaled up accordingly.
It was projected that the project, with an implementation timeline of 10 to 18 months, is expected to break even within five to seven years.
“De-Janees will generate and inject power directly into the existing grid while undertaking network upgrades—including replacement of poles, transformers, and cables in select communities. We expect to break even in less than six months due to minimal commercial and technical losses.”
It was disclosed that the project will be executed in three phases.
The first phase, which involves the deployment of a 2 MW solar solution, is set to commence immediately and is expected to be completed by December 2025.
It was also noted that the primary executor of the project, De-Janees Concept, is working in partnership with the REA and the World Bank Group to bring the full 10 MW solar power plant to life.
“The initial phase is designed to power over 400 homes, as well as critical public institutions, including schools, hospitals, and small businesses within the Saki community,” he said.
It was stated that the long-term vision is to scale the project to 10 MW and eventually to 30 MW to extend power supply to other underserved and unconnected communities across the region.
The project manager, Engr Boluwaji Ayeni, pointed out that most of the infrastructure in the distribution and transmission sector is over 40 years old, making modernisation a critical component of the project.
“In our assessment, deploying solar infrastructure is faster and more feasible than conventional power generation methods. Unlike gas turbines, which could take up to four years to install and operationalise, solar infrastructure can be delivered within six to twelve months,” Ayeni explained.
The Vice President of Hexing Group, Simon Ye, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to delivering sustainable and green energy solutions across Nigeria, revealing that the Saki electrification project is Hexing’s first major undertaking in the country.
“We’ve completed the preliminary stages and have moved into the engineering phase. This project goes beyond business for us—it’s about bringing life and development to a community,” Ye said.
He noted that construction and civil works will run concurrently with the delivery of equipment to Nigeria.
“Within five months, most of the materials will have arrived, and installation of the solar panels and battery systems will follow for about three months. In total, the project is expected to be completed and commissioned within ten months,” he stated.
