•Blackout
The Rural Electrification Agency, REA, today, disclosed that there are over 20,000 communities across the country without electricity supply.
The Managing Director, REA, Mr Abba Abubakar Aliyu who disclosed this at the inauguration of two mini-grid projects in Bakin Ciyawa and Kwande communities, Qua’an Pan LGA, Plateau State, said the projects built under the Interconnected Mini-grid Accelerated Scheme, IMAS, have a combined capacity of 550KWp and would supply uninterrupted power supply to over 3,500 households and businesses.
Aliyu who was represented by the Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund, Engr. Doris Udoh said the projects are part of the 11 million euro grant from the European Union and the German government to provide electricity for rural communities, reports Vanguard.
“The total package they gave us is over 11 million euros which has been divided according to the capacity needs of each community. More than 60 percent of this project was donated by the EU and the German government”.
He explained that there is a robust plan by the Federal Government through the REA to provide renewable energy to rural communities across the country.
“Under the present government, we are energising a total of 3,700 communities but we are doing it in phases. It is going to be 100 communities per state and we are going to be infusing a total of 370MW of clean energy.
“The first phase which is going to be 25 communities per state will being 925 communities across the Federation and we will be infusing over 92MW of clean energy into our energy space”.
He explained that “one of the most profound benefits of these solar mini-grids is their impact on the environment. By replacing traditional fossil fuel-based energy sources such as diesel generators and kerosene, these mini-grids are significantly reducing carbon emissions.
“The 550 kWp system installed in Bakin Ciyawa and Kwande will reduce an estimated 600 tons of CO2 emissions annually. This carbon emission reduction is equivalent to taking approximately 130 cars off the road or planting about 15,000 trees each year. These reductions are crucial in mitigating climate change and moving towards a greener future for Nigeria”.
Speaking at the event, the Governor of Plateau State, Celeb Mutfwang, pledged the support of the state government to the Nigerian Energy Support Programme.
Represented by the Commissioner for Tourism and Culture, Cornelius Dueyok, the governor said the state has paid N1.2 billion as counterpart funding for the REA to provide electricity supply to primary healthcare centres in the state.
He noted that Qua’an LGA remains the only local government area in the state that is not connected to the national power grid system.
To address this, he said the state government has signed an agreement with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC, to build a substation at Shandam to bring supply from Lafia to the area.
Also speaking, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Karin Jansen who expressed the commitment of the German government to improve power supply to rural communities, explained that the interconnected mini-grid projects in Bakin Ciyawa and Kwande communities will supply electricity to over 20,000 inhabitants.
Speaking on behalf of the two communities which are having electricity supply for the first time in their history, Mr. Hubert Isa said:
“This project represents a significant step forward for our communities. It is proof that the federal government has not forgotten the rural areas.
“The promise of providing electricity to underserved communities is now becoming a reality. This project gives us hope, and it signifies that development is on its way to our doors”.
