FG promises to leverage renewable energy to bridge electricity gap

As part of an ongoing effort to leverage renewable energy and off-grid solutions to bridge the electricity gap, the Federal Government has lit up communities and healthcare centres in Kogi State.

According to the World Bank over 70 per cent of Nigerians live in rural communities with estimated energy access placed at about 40 per cent, adding that this development has worsened the poverty rate, fueling rural-urban migration.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) on its part said the prevailing situation coupled with the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic may not decline unless underserved and unserved communities are powered to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

The beneficiaries of the project include the Government Cottage Hospital, Adavi-Eba, a 250-bed Ukpogo Cottage Hospital, Ukpogo and other Communities.

Managing Director of REA, Ahmad Salihijo, speaking at the commissioning of a 70.4 kwp solar system project located in Okene and Adavi area of Kogi State, said the need to deliver clean, safe and reliable energy remained sacrosanct.

Salihijo explained that the interventions were timely and necessary, considering the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare infrastructure in the last few months; hence the urgent need to continue to close the gap between reliable and sustainable energy and quality healthcare delivery across the nation.

The MD REA pointed out that being a mandate by the Federal Government, REA would vigorously pursue the responsibility of powering unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria using off-grid solutions.

“Providing and increasing energy access to millions of Nigerians through off-grid solutions is critical as the end goal is to ensure the equitable delivery of the social and economic benefits that will improve lives across the nation.

“The government would not lose sight of providing clean, safe and reliable energy for healthcare infrastructure in the country, stressing that quality healthcare delivery relies on sustainable energy.

“We are in no doubt about the continued impact of the Federal Government’s Power Sector Roadmap as well as our capacity to leverage on our off-grid expertise and potential to transform and catalyse rural socio-economic growth and development in Nigeria”, Salihijo said.