Adedeji Adeleke, father of music superstar Davido, recently shared the difficulties he encountered while securing environmental permits for his $2 billion power plant project in Nigeria.
Speaking at the Seventh-Day Adventist General Conference Annual Council in Maryland, USA, the businessman described how he faced opposition from government officials during the process.
Adeleke, who owns Pacific Energy and generates approximately 15% of Nigeria’s electricity, revealed that his power plant, which is set to be completed in January 2025, encountered regulatory roadblocks.
“We ran into difficult government officials. For environmental reasons, our permit was denied, and one official told me to my face that the project would never see the light of day,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, Adeleke did not accept the official’s remarks as final. “While he was saying that, I was thinking in my mind that this guy is talking as if he is God. Whatever he is saying is null and void,” he recounted, emphasizing that he turned to prayer during this challenging period.
His Chinese partners, who were also heavily invested in the project, expressed concern over the delays. “My Chinese friend was worried because the Afrexim Bank of China was involved, which meant bankruptcy for him. I told him not to worry,” Adeleke said.
Eventually, the project gained approval after the then Minister of Power reviewed the plans and saw the potential of the venture. Adeleke credited his faith for the breakthrough, highlighting the importance of prayer in overcoming bureaucratic obstacles.
Earlier in July 2023, Adeleke had spoken about the significance of this power project during a lecture at Adeleke University’s 9th graduation ceremony in Ede, Osun State.
