Five Million Households To Benefit From Rural Electrification Project – FG

The Federal Government has disclosed plans to provide solar power for at least five million households through the N2.3trn Economic Sustainability Plan.

The Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, during the inauguration of the first 12KWP Volsus Solar for Health mini-grid and unveiling of the sustainable energy magazine at the Karu Primary Healthcare Centre, Abuja, said that the government will now devote more attention to rural electrification throughout the country.

He explained that efforts are ongoing to promote the mini-grid regulation made by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission , through the Rural Electrification Agency, in collaboration with the World Bank to power 300,000 homes and 30,000 local businesses.

He said, “This government is promoting a holistic development agenda and will continue to provide power for under-served communities in Nigeria because this will encourage people who live outside the towns and cities to engage in small businesses and preserve farm produce by processing them.

“To emphasise the focus government is giving to electrifying rural communities, there are plans under the N2.3trn fund for the Economic Sustainability Plan being coordinated by the Office of the Vice-President, to provide Solar Home Systems to five million homes across un-served rural communities in Nigeria.

“Through the mini-grids projects, REA aims to provide clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity to 300,000 homes and 30,000 local businesses, plus the Nigeria Electrification Project which has commissioned the first mini-grid under the performance-based grant.”

The Minister further noted that the move was motivated by the need to empower those who live in villages and ensure that their small-scale businesses thrive.

He added that rural communities are more likely to pay their electricity bills without complaining than those in urban areas where power operators are tackling the challenges of energy theft and meter bypass.

The Minister noted that the Ministry of Power had set up a committee to restructure and provide in-depth oversight for its agencies to ensure that it delivers on the provision of improved and sustainable power supply to Nigerians.