Ogun Strikes Strategic Partnership with Top Brazilian Firms on Power

Olufemi Orunsola

In a bold move to drive industrial growth and food security, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has announced a strategic partnership with Ambar Energia, a leading Brazilian energy company, to establish power plants across the state. 

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports as gathered that this initiative aligns with his administration’s commitment to providing reliable power supply and boosting agricultural production to support both residents and the over 6,000 industries operating within the state.

The Governor of the gateway state who spoke while receiving a delegation from Ambar Energia, led by its President Marcelo Zanatta, at the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun emphasized that Ogun State, widely recognized as Nigeria’s industrial capital, must take full advantage of the constitutional amendment that decentralizes power generation, allowing states to produce and distribute electricity independently.

According to him, "The energy needs of our state are enormous. The current allocation is grossly inadequate. With this partnership, we aim to bridge that gap and unlock the full industrial potential of Ogun State."

Highlighting the significance of the partnership, the governor noted that Ogun and Lagos states currently consume about 40% of Nigeria’s 6,000 megawatts, yet demand is projected to rise to 45% of the megawatts by 2030. He said Ogun’s rapidly growing industrial clusters—such as Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta, Atan-Agbara, Remo, Imeko-Afon, and Aworo—require robust and localized energy solutions.

"We’re expanding our current power infrastructure. A plant that once generated just four megawatts is being upgraded to produce 30 megawatts in its first phase—primarily to serve government offices and residential areas. But this is merely a drop in the ocean. Our goal is to replicate such captive power plants across the three senatorial districts of the state,” he added.

He further stressed that electricity is the key to unlocking the state’s abundant natural resources, including gold, lithium, bitumen, silica, limestone, and its dominance in cement, cassava, poultry, and egg production.

He also revealed that construction is set to begin on Africa’s largest garment production facility, to be located at the Special Agro-Processing Zone near the Gateway International Airport, which alone will require 300 megawatts of electricity to operate.

Governor Abiodun commending Ambar Energia, ranked among Brazil’s top five energy firms with 27 plants and a combined capacity of 4.3 gigawatts, expressed confidence in the firm’s technical capacity and commitment to collaboration.

"Our government believes in enabling private sector growth. We’re here to create the right environment for businesses to thrive because the government doesn’t do business—it facilitates it. As businesses grow, they employ people, and that brings shared prosperity,” he stated.

In his own response, Marcelo Zanatta, President of Ambar Energia, expressed readiness to work with the state in developing sustainable energy solutions, noting that his team had already visited critical infrastructure sites including the Gateway International Airport, Olorunsogo Power Plant, and the Onijanganjangan Power Plant.

In a related development, Governor Abiodun also received a delegation from the JBJ, JBS, and SEARRA Group of Brazil, led by renowned agribusiness leader Jose Batista, to discuss potential investments in large-scale farming and food production.

With over 16,000 square kilometres of land, of which more than 12,000 square kilometres are arable, Ogun State offers vast opportunities for agricultural expansion. The governor, however, noted that the state boasts over 200,000 registered farmers, actively engaged in diverse food crop production.