Osinbajo to inaugurate 74 solar-powered traffic lights
Osinbajo
Transport Secretariat says it has concluded plans for the inauguration of 74 solar-powered traffic lights in the territory on Sept. 18.
Mr Ifeanyi Ughamadu, Head of Public Relations of the secretariat, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja.
Ughamadu said that the traffic lights, to be inaugurated by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, were donated by the Chinese Governemnt.
“Sometime in 2012, the, the Federal Government had this offer of assistance from the Chinese Government to construct and install 74 solar-powered traffic lights.
“The traffic lights were to be installed in parts of Abuja as bilateral assistance at the cost of N830 million as part of their corporate social responsibility.
“The contract, which began in March 2015, was executed by Messers Poly Solar Technologies Beijing Limited, and was completed in July, 2015, “Ughamadu said
He said that the FCT Administration provided supervision services in the contract to ensure that the job was effectively executed.
“Though the FCTA did not bear any part of the contract cost, our engineers were on ground to supervise the job and ensure effective execution.’’
He said that the assistance came following a conference that took place in Beijing in 2012, where the Federal government made official request for the assistance.
“The assistance came on the heels of an Afro-Chinese Conference in Beijing 2012, where the Federal Government, through the National Planning Commission, requested for the assistance.
“FCTA still requires similar support to upgrade 90 more traffic lights into solar-power for efficiency; because there will be no interruption due to disruption in public power supply.
“Fifty-five of the traffic intersections are in the city centre , 11 in Kubwa and nine in Gwarinpa,’’ he said.
He said that complaints by motorists that the traffic lights were too many and too clustered had been addressed by synchronising their timing to meet with the rhythm of traffic flow.
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16 Comments
China is a true ally. I enjoy their cultural exchange events at Unilag. I go just for the food.
Eeeeheee! Eeeejaah! So you are a parasite?
Why?
China has never threatened Nigeria. How many times in the last 10 years have the US government or a US company threatened Nigeria?
You made this comment: “…I go just for the food.” That is why I ask, whether you’re a para…!
nothing in this world is free, even the air you breathe.
You are right. But I don’t like to be threatened by western countries.
This report by FCTA and Transport Secretariat is saying one solar-powered traffic lights is $56,081 (N11.2million)….granted that it was a free gift by China…the pricing is off, these things costs less than $1,000 FOB China….Transport Secretariat now wants assistance to install 90 of such, in essence he is sourcing $5m.
First, why is VP commissioning traffic lights? makes no sense – he is and should be busier than that. Second why is Transport Secretariat asking through the newspapers that it need $5m for more of those …. – let FCDA and other organs including Transport Secretariat encourage the setting up of a small scale factory or incentives one, if none exist to set up solar-powered traffic lights plant in the FCDA, yes this could be through a joint partnership with China – take the partnership a step further and create trade between Nigeria and China based on this…this is how we would get Nigerians employed…I want to read that a Nigerian entrepreneur is working on this opportunity with Nigerian Organs and China to take this idea forward to the benefit of Nigerians.
To take it a step further, what happened to all the research work and capabilities of our ivory towers. I know in the 80s, that University of Ilorin developed and built traffic lights and even installed it in certain part of Ilorin as at that time, which you’d notice when you visit the peaceful city and it was….I am sure all the electrical electronics programs in other universities & higher institutions can build/assemble the smarts required – even if certain parts were brought in from China – these should be pursued….we should revive local content and empower our ivory towers..and put Nigerian brains & hands to work..not just trading
I support your comment on taking our relationship with China further.
Nigerian govt continue to say local content, even though this is supposely free. They didn’t add a clause to provide capacity building. There are local companies that would build and install this traffic lights, yet we are not developing them and supporting them. All our leaders know how to do is pass policy with no support.
Have they heard of the Kinshasa robot traffic light control design by an african l am sure it will be cheaper than Chinese. Best still Nigeria can design her own .she doesn’t have to look to import all the time. Congo lady design and made in Congo the aforementioned one and the government patronise that inturn creating jobs and there forex stays in congo. Now that is what a V.president can launch not so call Chinese traffic light that will take our money out will creat little or no jobs and setting the ground for grand theft with outrageous cost
Where is my comment
In the late eighties and early nineties, UNILAG had a pioneer solar energy program. What is the status of that program. Most Universities in Nigeria have electrical/electronics departments. What is happening in those departments that Nigerians cannot produce common traffic lights?
VP don’t have work oooo
Is this not the same traffic light contract that caused uproar before inauguration that people were saying contractors who abandoned the project are quickly doing shoddy jobs??
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So the minister for the federal capital or any director general cannot commission street lights except the vice president? Very soon he will be commissioning boreholes.
We will review and take appropriate action.