Nigerian businessman and father of music star Davido, Adedeji Adeleke, recently opened up about the challenges he faced in securing the necessary permits for his $2 billion power plant project.
Adeleke, a prominent figure in Nigeria’s energy industry, shared his experience while speaking at the Seventh-Day Adventist General Conference Annual Council in Maryland, USA.
As a Layperson representing West-Central Africa Division, he detailed the difficulties he encountered when trying to obtain environmental approval for what is set to become Nigeria’s largest power plant.
Adeleke described the struggles his company, Pacific Energy, went through during the process. According to him, one of the most challenging obstacles was dealing with uncooperative government officials.
He recalled how one official confidently told him that his project would never succeed. Despite the discouraging remarks, Adeleke turned to his faith. He explained how he prayed to God and refused to believe the official’s negative prediction.
“I am a businessman in Nigeria. I’m into the electricity business. I own a power plant, I generate about 15 per cent of the electricity needs for Nigeria,” Adeleke explained. “I’m building the biggest power plant in Nigeria that will be completed in January 2025. It is a 1,250-megawatt power plant.”
However, the process of securing the environmental permit for such a massive project was not smooth. Adeleke explained that during the design and approval stage, he ran into “difficult government officials” who denied the permit, citing environmental concerns.
Despite this, he remained hopeful, believing that only God could decide the project’s future, not the officials.
Adeleke’s frustrations were shared by his Chinese partners, who had invested heavily in the project alongside financial backing from China’s Afrexim Bank.
The potential loss of the project raised concerns about bankruptcy for his business partners, yet Adeleke remained optimistic. He reassured his Chinese friends that the situation would be resolved, although they had their doubts.
Interestingly, Adeleke’s prayers were eventually answered. The then-Minister of Power later saw the merit in the project and approved the permit. This approval was a crucial turning point that allowed the project to move forward.
This is not the first time Adeleke has discussed the power plant. He also shared details of the project during a lecture at Adeleke University’s 9th graduation ceremony in Osun State in July 2023, reiterating his determination to contribute to Nigeria’s electricity sector.
