American Investors, Solar Energy Experts Visits Nigeria

By Paul I. Adujie

Lawcareer2007@aol.com

New York, United States

American solar energy investors are taking Nigeria by storm!

A Nigerian in California Mr. Richard Soyombo, Director of California Center for International Trade, is acting as a facilitator, chaperon and pointer for these visitors. These American investors in solar energy are taking solar energy to Nigeria, as an alternative energy source

I am delighted to report that the chief executive officer and president of Bay Solar Energy Corporation is on exploratory road-show and business meetings with Nigerian business executives, government leaders and the Nigerian general public.

A key component for national development is energy. Energy shortfall has been a factor in Nigeria's under-development and stunted economic growth. As we must all have realized,

Nigeria's national development is hinged on a reliable and steady power supply.

Energy overhead costs, and initial outlays for energy supply, frequently serve as deterrent to potential foreign investors that are interested in Nigeria. Energy shortage in Nigeria affects quality of life of those who live in Nigeria; as modern conveniences are powered and often automated.

Many American investors complain about Nigeria's erratic energy supply, which is similar to the situation in Vietnam. Nigeria and Vietnam are countries to which American investors are attracted, but, the frequent complaints and constraints, are energy shortages that is pervasive in both countries.

Nigeria has for so long relied on hydro-thermal electricity generation and transmission as energy source. Power supply has been erratic to say the least. The challenges in the energy generation, transmission and supply in Nigeria have been daunting, and this, despite huge monetary and material investments in the traditional energy sector.

These perennial challenges were met head-on by the current federal government of Nigeria of President Obasanjo and despite best efforts, electricity generating and transmitting remains inadequate, unreliable and unsteady. Power supply to individual consumers and industrial consumers remain a daunting task.

These American investors and solar energy experts, seek partnerships with individuals and corporations in Nigeria. All these, are with a view, to finding lasting and permanent solutions to what has essentially morphed into a national energy crises.

John Bannen leads a major solar energy company in the United States. He is a leader of Bay Solar Energy Corporation based in California. Center for International Trade and Development are keenly interested in Mr. Bannen's exploratory and road show to Nigeria. CITD is very supportive of investment in the Nigerian-African markets.

The purpose of the current visit by these American investors, is to consolidate plans to partner with Nigerian entities and to convince all concerned that these American investors are interested in making long-term investment commitments in Nigeria.

Solar energy solution is new to Nigeria. It will benefit individual persons for domestic consumption as well as, institutional consumers. The American solar energy experts and investors, are confident, and full of, a sense of purpose. Nigeria has abundant supply of sunlight and sunshine. This is an energy source that can never be depleted. There is a fertile and would be lucrative market for solar energy and in fact, any energy alternative to hydro-thermal energy sources. Power supply in Nigeria is currently inadequate, grossly inadequate.

There is clearly therefore an enormous market in Nigeria. Nigeria's huge population is underserved in energy generation and transmission. There is a welter of consumers waiting for solar energy panels to serve and fulfill energy needs.

The benefits, the profits and sheer happy returns to Nigeria, are immeasurable. Solar energy is environment friendly, no pollution in discernable way, is associated with solar energy generation and transmission. It is noiseless and fumes-free, unlike the hundreds of thousands of noisy portable residential and industrial electricity generators to which Nigerians have become accustomed! Can anyone actually get accustomed to noisy generators?

Solar energy, solar panels, does not require hunt for petrol or diesel fuels, with solar energy in your home, office, school or industry, petroleum scarcity for instance, would not result in the usual darkness and hardships that results from fuel shortage and power failures.

It is worthy to mention that Solar Energy panels require a substantial one time investment. However, unlike generators, you do not need to spend an additional Kobo for approximately 25-30 years thereafter (unless your panels were deliberately damaged.)

If and when the costs of purchasing a generator, diesel oil for 25-30 years, oil lubricant for 25-30 years, monthly maintenance were calculated, one will realize that the initial "substantial" cost of solar panels amounts to nothing. The solar energy setup should start paying for itself in about 8 - 10years. This means 15 years of free energy, 24/7!!

Solar Energy panels, unlike generators do not emit fumes, they do not make noise and they do not require diesel oil nor lubricants. Consequently, no health related hazards and you sleep better while enjoying 24/7 electricity.

If the cost of healthcare and stress due to sleeplessness were calculated, definitely more Nigerians will opt for Solar Panels.

Solar panels do not cause fire outbreaks, unlike generators. Several families in Nigeria have woeful stories to tell of how their generators went afire and the whole house burnt down.

Solar Energy panels in addition to residential and corporate applications, can be used virtually for almost anything: street lights, traffic lights, signage boards, relay stations for satellite communications and/or mobile telecommunications, rural health centers, rural electricity, hospitals, corporate buildings, agricultural irrigations, water-hole pumps, manufacturing, business centers, night parties, etc.

In addition, Bay Solar Power will also bring to Nigeria, solar-based laptop/cell phone/PDA chargers that can be used virtually anywhere.

John Bannen, CEO Bay Solar Power is committed to making solar energy panels available to every Nigerian.

Financing arrangements are being worked out with Nigerian Banks to further facilitate purchase by the masses.

It is important that Nigerian consumers; In this regard therefore, Bay Solar has embarked advertisements, marketing and press releases to explain and open the a new alternative energy world to Nigerians. These efforts, will, add and enhance infrastructure developments that will help advance the economy of our great homeland.

This "invasion" of Nigeria by these American solar energy investors and experts, are particularly a thing of joy for me for multiple variable of reasons. The first is that Nigerians and Nigeria are about to be served well, and lives improved energy wise. Secondly, these solar energy efforts are environment friendly.

Thirdly, Nigerians In Diaspora Organization (NIDO) has something to do with these endeavors. Mr. John Bannen and Bay Solar Energy Corporation were participants in NIDO World Conference held in Toronto between January 18 and 20 2007. I personally interacted with some Nigerians, with homes in Lagos, who already use solar powered amenities. It will be recalled, that the Toronto conference saw policy wonks, academics and government departmental leaders engage in vigorous and vibrant debates, analyses, and thorough examination of current government reforms, followed with suggestions and recommendations, for fine-tuning public policies.

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/articles/paul-adujie/obasanjo-s-company-the-facts-just-the-f.html

The panelist and discussants on energy, during the Toronto NIDO conference, experts and various participants, analyzed all facets of energy supply, both traditional and alternative sources, such as solar, nuclear and windmills etc. And the subsequent contacts that were made thereafter, has resulted in this outcome, an indication of strong investment interests in Nigeria by Bay Solar and others.

As Nigeria receive these American investors and experts in solar energy, we, Nigerians at home and abroad, must ask ourselves, what we can do today, for the development, advancement and greatness of Nigeria?

Robot  Villager

# 1 There is clearly therefore an enormous market in Nigeria. Nigeria's huge population is underserve...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 23.03.2007 16:33

salstep  Villager

# 2 It is worthy to mention that Solar Energy panels require a substantial one time investment. However, unlike generators, you do not need to spend an additional Kobo for approximately 25-30 years thereafter (unless your panels were deliberately damaged.) Cost of solar panels alone means its only for the elite. Lucky Evil Igbinedion has install a few in benin around the government house and golf course road. It suppose to power the street lights. Not viable to power large homes. Initial cost prohibitive. Posted by salstep| 23.03.2007 17:23

Palamedes  Villager

# 3 Beware of those who call themselves experts in matters of technologies-- for many are only yesterday’s experts John Bannen, CEO Bay Solar Power is committed to making solar energy panels available to every Nigerian. Financing arrangements are being worked out with Nigerian Banks to further facilitate purchase by the masses. Sir, I feel that many paragraphs are saying the same thing over and over. However, how are all these promises going to be met or are they just PR? Further, I recollect that the FG has no policy on Solar, Windmills or Wind farms as alternative sources of power. If there exist such policies, I am not aware of them. If the FG has no policy, then there is no subsidy to help those who wish to go green. Who, then, is making what financial arrangement for whom? Provision for subsidy should be in place to encourage early adoption of the technology. This is the case even in more affluent western countries. My greatest apprehension of these investors is that their project(s) may well be another MTA (Medical Treatment Abroad) unless the equipments are going to be manufactured locally to create jobs and transfer Solar and windmill technological skills to Nigerians. For the sake of Nigeria, I hope that my apprehension is unfounded. Posted by Palamedes| 23.03.2007 18:57

truthsayer33  Villager

# 4 my question is: why is it that with all our universities and PHD holders we need americans to come to tell us how to harness solar energy? next they will come to tell us how to get ethanol out of sugar cane....then they will tell us that if we sleep inside mosquito nets we will avoid malaria. please note the role of the diaspora nigerian...he is a "facilitator" for the US money makers. Posted by truthsayer33| 23.03.2007 20:27

Chidi Giniji  Villager

# 5 "..... Nigerians at home and abroad, must ask ourselves, what we can do today, for the development, advancement and greatness of Nigeria?" This is the question we should be asking ourselves and not what the American investors can do for us to that regard! Anybody who read The Confessions Of An Economic Hit Man, by John Perkins, himself an apostate EHM, must develope instant goose bumps on this one. We ought to take this with a wee pinch of salt! On the long haul, this people have only their own interest at heart, not Nigeria's. On their imperialist rampage, they'll habitually stop at nothing. Of course, I am not assuming that they have not been working in Nigeria for years, but we should not let them consolidate on their stranglehold with such naive gullibility. We must be on our guard; this level of imposture makes Nigerian 419 a nitwitted child's play.:frown: Posted by Chidi Giniji| 24.03.2007 06:39

Yoba Akinjola  Villager

# 6 There are 365 days in a year. There are (365)(8) days (2920 days) in your period of 8 years in office There are 65 days left for you to go, obviously a period which approximates to 2 percent of your entire period in office, as the Mother of all Intelligence and Love for Nigeria. And you’re now suddenly realizing that energy is this and that for your beloved Nigeria. How does the amount from the American investors compare to the amount you wasted on Third Term bribery or to the amount you earned in two days from Nigeria oil wealth? Ayn Rand must have advised you on what to do and say and when to do it and say it? What an “intelligent” revelation? Posted by Yoba Akinjola| 24.03.2007 13:27