By Constance Athekame
The Federal Government has donated solar- powered mini grids to 2000 households and businesses in Toto community in Nasarawa state.
The 352-24 Kilowatts Peak (KWP) project, Nigeria’s first Interconnected grid, was executed under the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)-Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) and funded by the World Bank.
It currently provides reliable electricity to more than 2000 Households, 141 Commercial Users, 18 Productive Users and 45 Public Users in the community aimed at improving the socio-economic life.
This project was achieved through the collaboration of REA, PowerGen Nigeria Limited and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).
Speaking while inaugurating the project in Toto on Thursday, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, said that the event marked a transformative step in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said that the agenda focused on revamping Nigeria’s power infrastructure to provide equitable access to electricity across the nation.
The minister said that the partnership between REA, AEDC and PowerGen represented the synergy government was trying to achieve across the power sector.
This, he said was an avenue where all players in the various segments can collaborate to deliver power to the end consumers.
He said the mini-grid inaugurated was a beacon of hope and government’s commitment to re-invigorate the power sector, as it symbolised its pledge to provide affordable energy to the country’s rural communities.
According to Adelabu, the project will also empower the citizens, regardless of their economic statuses, adding that everybody deserves electricity.
“We need to reduce the trend of rural-urban migration, the end result is not desirable, it is a threat to our food security, when everybody leaves the village and want to enjoy power in the city.
“Governments must bring light to the people in the village and this is what we are doing today.
“As today’s milestone propels us forward, we cannot fail to identify the numerous potentials ahead of this community and ahead of us as a nation.”
Also speaking, Gov. Abdulahi Sule commended the Federal Government for bringing the project to the community.
Represented by Mr Abdulahi Tasha, Chairman, Toto Local Government Area, he pledged the people's commitment to cooperate with PowerGen to sustain the project.
On his part, the REA Managing Director, Mr Ahmad Saihijo, said the successful completion of the project was a testament to the power of partnership and innovation in driving rural electrification in the country.
Salihijo said that the REA remained committed to fostering an environment which encourages similar sustainable and impactful projects nationwide.
He said, “Over the years, we have optimised the NEP to strengthen the off-grid space while deploying over 100 mini-grids and powering over five million Nigerians.
“With the seamless implementation of this programme, we are confident in the model and positioned for an even wider impact across the nation.”
AEDC Managing Director, Mr Christopher Ezeafulukwe, said the company’s collaboration with PowerGen to achieve the project, underscored the significant role DisCos played in supporting renewable energy initiatives.
Ezeafulukwe, represented by Jumoke Daleno, Head, Regulatory and Government Relations, said the DisCos were also enhancing the grid with sustainable energy solutions for underserved communities.
”It is a proof of what can be achieved when we work together, and we are immensely proud of this achievement, ‘’he said.
Ezeafulukwe said the choice of Toto for the pilot project was not difficult for AEDC and its partners to make, given the economic potentials of the community which had been underserved.
”Even at the conception stage, we could envision the massive transformative impact a successful interconnected mini grid project would have on Toto.
”We are indeed very glad that our vision at AEDC has come to fruition and the journey we embarked upon with our worthy partners, has been successfully completed, ”he said.
Powergen Country Director, Mr Seun Edun, said that the firm and AEDC teamed up to pioneer a groundbreaking approach to improving energy access in the country.
”The mini-grid model is designed to cater to the energy needs of underserved areas at affordable tariffs below the associated costs of using petrol or diesel generators, ‘’ he said. (NAN)
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
By Constance Athekame The Federal Government has donated solar- powered mini grids to 2000 households and businesses in Toto community in Nasarawa state. The 352-24 Kilowatts Peak (KWP) project, Nigeria’s first Interconnected grid, was executed under the Rural Electrification Agency (REA)-Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) and funded by the World Bank.Continue Reading
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