A real estate company, Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, has installed industrial solar streetlights in all its estates in Ogun State.

The Chief Executive Officer of Pelican Valley Nigeria Ltd, Dr Babatunde Adeyemo, in a statement, disclosed that at least N20m had been invested in the street lighting project for the estates and the link roads on its corridors.

He reiterated the firm’s commitment to putting all necessary infrastructures in all its estates.

He said, “Over 10 neighbouring communities benefited from the installed industrial solar street lights, which include Kobape, Egbeda, Galatia, Masha, Mosunmore, Ijo-Alafia, among others.”

Reacting, the Baale of Masha Village, Chief Sadu Sotunde commended Pelican Valley Nigeria for the development it had brought to the community.

He, however, called on the state government to fix the road where the solar lights were installed to add more value to the community and residents.

He said, “The first day I saw the solar street lights, I was so delighted. I have been praying day and night for the CEO of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, who did it for us. In December 2023, he donated food, stuff, and cash to windows in my village.

“I want to charge the state government to support the vision of this man by providing other social amenities and constructing asphalt roads for our communities.”

Also, the Balogun Mosunmore, Chief Biodun Adebeso, said the street light had mitigated the evil acts of criminally minded individuals in the community.

“The solar street lights you are seeing were brought to our community by an individual, not the government. Since it was installed, we have been praying for the person who did it for us because the solar street lights have illuminated our community and its environment and chased away the hidden criminals who perpetrate their evil acts when the community is dark.

“One day, I strolled down the street to find out where the project stopped from Kobape junction and I discovered that it was beyond Masha Village before I was informed that it was done by the CEO of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited. This is the Galatia community in Kobape. We pray to God to continue to prosper the Pelican Valley Estate Nigeria Limited,” he stated.

Speaking on behalf of the members of the landlord association of the Ijo-Alafia community, Sobowale Najeem, noted that the project had been beneficial to the community since it was installed.

He added that the government should help fix the community’s road.

“The streetlight is a blessing to us in this community. Both young and adult residents are praying for the person who did it for us because from Kobape to Masha there is no time you cannot work or drive in the night and you will not have fear due to the installed solar street lights.

“The then Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, facilitated electricity to this community from Kobape to Egbeda and we are using this medium to appeal to the incumbent governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to bless us with road construction so that more social amenities would be attracted to our community,” he pleaded.

An elderly villager, Chief Oridota Olalekan, revealed that what Pelican Valley Nigeria did for the community was unprecedented, charging the government to give them a good road.

“Before Pelican Valley Nigeria came here, our community was very dark but now it has been illuminated with solar streetlights.

“I want to urge the government to construct this road so that it will be motorable for the residents of this community,” he added.

Punch