Bayelsa Secures $3m Dubai Deal for Solar, Smart Meters
Bayelsa State has obtained a fresh $3 million foreign direct investment as Jampur Group, a Dubai-based conglomerate, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government to establish renewable energy and smart metering factories in Yenagoa.
PulseNets learnt that the multi-million-dollar project will be financed solely by Jampur Group, with no direct financial input from the Bayelsa State Government.
Speaking at the Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Douye Diri described the partnership as a historic breakthrough for Bayelsa and the wider Niger Delta. He told PulseNets that Jampur was not just any company but “a reputable international player with a record of excellence.”
According to him, the plants would not only serve Bayelsa but also supply the Niger Delta, Nigeria, and even markets across the Gulf of Guinea.
The governor highlighted that when completed, the factories would make solar panels and smart meters readily available within Nigeria, saving citizens the stress and cost of travelling abroad to source them.
Governor Diri further revealed to PulseNets that Jampur had already worked closely with the state, having supplied and installed the recently procured 60MW gas turbines. He stressed that smart meters would “end the endless disputes between consumers and power providers, as those who fail to pay will be automatically disconnected.”
He also charged the Ministry of Power to ensure that Bayelsa youths were trained and actively involved in the running of the new factories. “Our role is to create the enabling environment. Their role is to invest and operate. Soon, Nigerians will no longer look to China or other countries for solar panels and meters; they will be made right here in Bayelsa,” he told PulseNets.
Governor Diri added: “This investment is not just for Bayelsa alone. It will benefit other states and the Gulf of Guinea. We are determined to ensure that Jampur’s trust in Bayelsa is not misplaced.”
Earlier, Jampur Group chairman, Mohammed Shafiq, confirmed to PulseNets that the partnership was part of a three-in-one plan, which includes a solar panel production factory, a smart electric meter plant, and a fertiliser blending plant. He assured that work on the metering facility would commence before the end of 2025.
Olice Kemenanabo, Managing Director of the Bayelsa State Electricity Company, told PulseNets that the agreement was a “milestone achievement” in line with the Prosperity Agenda of the Douye Diri administration.
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On the legal side, PulseNets learnt that Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo, SAN, signed on behalf of the state government, while Bello Abdulahi represented Jampur Group.
With this latest MoU, Bayelsa has positioned itself as a hub for renewable energy and smart technology manufacturing in Nigeria, strengthening its reputation as an emerging regional power base in the energy sector.
