China-led solar project launched to light up Nigerian capital city

Two Chinese construction firms, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and CGCOC Group Co., have launched construction on the "Light Up Abuja" project, a flagship infrastructure initiative of Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Government officials and residents gathered on Thursday for the launch ceremony in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, which marked the start of comprehensive installations of advanced hybrid solar streetlights across the city -- a move expected to significantly enhance security and urban development.

The project, divided into two main parts, assigns CCECC and CGCOC key responsibilities for delivering integrated solar lighting systems across major districts and expressways in the FCTA.

Speaking at the ceremony, FCTA Minister Nyesom Wike highlighted the project's importance in improving residents' quality of life and safety. He noted that conventional streetlights had become largely dysfunctional due to vandalism and poor maintenance, while the new hybrid solar systems are equipped with built-in resilience and advanced features to overcome these challenges.

Wike hailed the deepening comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Nigeria in infrastructure development, describing the project as a tangible outcome of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's state visit to Beijing in September 2024 and a reinforcement of the mutually beneficial ties between the two countries.

Scheduled for completion within six to seven months, the project aims to transform Abuja's nighttime landscape ahead of the city's 50th anniversary in 2026. Under the agreement, the two Chinese firms will not only install but also maintain the solar lighting systems for four to five years.

"The project mainly involves the installation of tens of thousands of solar streetlights. Essentially, it signifies that during the China-Africa cooperation, our country's photovoltaic products and new energy solutions have been able to go overseas and enter Africa, gaining full recognition from local residents," said Guan Shuai, managing director of CCECC in Nigeria.

China-led solar project launched to light up Nigerian capital city

China-led solar project launched to light up Nigerian capital city

An explosion on Friday night at an industrial park 50 kilometers southwest of Buenos Aires sparked a fire and released toxic fumes, leaving at least 22 people injured, local media reported.

The explosion, which occurred around 21:00 local time in the city of Ezeiza, shattered windows of buildings within a four-kilometer radius, then ignited a fire and produced dense, toxic smoke, according to the media outlet Clarin.

The fire reached a height of over 20 meters and burned for more than two hours.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene following the blast. However, due to the intensity of the flames, they were unable to extinguish the fire directly; instead, they sprayed water on surrounding buildings to prevent the blaze from spreading further.

Gaston Granados, mayor of Ezeiza, said the fire had spread to several factories and was still not under control.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire began in the warehouse of an agrochemical company.

Industrial blast near Argentinian capital Buenos Aires injures 22