The Federal Government of Nigeria, through its implementing agency, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), today (Thursday) commissions a 334-kilowatts (KWs) solar hybrid mini-grid power plant in Shimankar, an agrarian settlement on the banks of River Shimankar, Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State.
A number of other communities across Nigeria have received similar facilities.
The project, which is one of the many solar mini projects to be commissioned under the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), will provide clean, safe, affordable, and reliable electricity for the community members.
Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, REA managing director, and chief executive officer emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to meeting its developmental goals by providing electricity access for all.
“As an agency, we are responsible for powering unserved and underserved communities. Therefore, it is fulfilling every time homes, businesses, schools, and medical centres are connected to sustainable solar power,” Ahmad said.
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Almost immediately, the REA has witnessed rural communities being transformed with clean energy through the jobs that are created during construction to the micro and small businesses scaling to larger capacity thanks to reliable electricity.
Miskoom Maurice Danjuma Manu III, a traditional ruler, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and the private sector developer for providing electricity to their community.
“Our businesses are now fully operational, especially at night. Our businesses are growing; we can buy and enjoy cold beverages in the provision shops. Today is indeed the beginning of better things to come for Shimankar,” he said.
Ifeanyi Orajaka, CEO, GVE Projects Limited, Nigeria’s leading PV solar mini-grid solutions provider, stated that the installed mini-grid comprising a total of 334kw will adequately energise the community.
He also mentioned that the solar hybrid mini-grid in Shimankar aims to provide reliable electricity to 1,972 households, 273 commercial users, five productive users, and 19 public users in the community to improve the socio-economic life of the community.
“It is a thing of pride that GVE, an indigenous Nigerian firm, can be a part of developing Nigeria’s rural areas. Thanks to this project, Nigerian solar developers, like myself, can access these investment opportunities and participate in growing Nigeria’s evolving off-grid sector,” Orajaka said.
Shimankar Community now joins the many communities across Nigeria experiencing social and economic progress thanks to the solar mini-grids project under the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP).
“We are very proud to have financed this project that enables GVE to bring clean, reliable energy to Shimankar, in line with our mission to increase off-grid energy access in Nigeria,” said Wiebe Boer, CEO of All On.
“This will create thousands of new electricity connections and we expect to see measurable productivity growth and economic benefits for the community in the near future,” Boer said.
