Kare-Dadin Kowa, an agrarian community in Kebbi State has joined a growing league of solar powered rural communities in Nigeria. This is so because the Federal Government has commissioned a 98.80 kilowatts (kW) solar hybrid mini grid power plant. Known for rice and millet production in Nigeria, STEPHEN ONYEKWELU writes that the newly commissioned
facility will improve lives and boost trade in the community.
Kare-Dadin Kowa, a small riverine community in Arewa Local Government area of Kebbi State has awakened from decades of slumbering without light, in dark oblivion. This awakening is thanks to the new roll out of mini-grids powered by hybrid solar power plants by the President-Buhari led administration, implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency, under its Rural Electrification Fund (REF).
With a total population of about 3,180 people, agriculture and fishing are key economic activities within Kare-Dadin Kowa. The newly commissioned 98.80kW solar hybrid mini grid plant would provide clean energy to 483 residential buildings, schools, places of worships and health centres. It will also power 82 commercial buildings which would serve over 3,000 inhabitants of the community. The old inhabitants were very appreciative, the not too young were joyous and the young ones were excited as they lined the streets to witness the
historic moment in their lives, when reliable, clean energy entered the community.
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The September 17 commissioning of the 98.80kW solar hybrid mini grid power plant reinforces the Federal Government’s campaign to electrify the un-served and underserved communities across all regions of the country, ensuring equitable access to uninterrupted and sustainable power through an off-grid independent power plant. For the millions of people who do not currently have access to electricity, the old assumption that they will have to wait for grid extensions is being turned on its head by new technological possibilities. There are currently 634 million people without electricity in Africa and in Nigeria it is estimated that only one in five people has access to power from the electricity grid. This leaves four in five people living in urban and rural communities having to fend for themselves with makeshift and localised power solutions. Faster progress is needed, and it is believed that national energy policies need to adopt a more comprehensive approach to energy access, embracing the new starting points for energy provided by standalone renewable technology and mini-grids. This is wh Africa’s most populous nation is promoting off-grid electrification, to stimulate innovative approaches to rural electrification, with collateral social, economic and environmental benefits.
The first call of the REF will energise 12 communities and deploy 19,000 Solar Home Systems (SHS). REF projects are administered using a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. “Under my leadership, the Ministry of Power will continue to provide requisite policy interventions to ensure that transformative projects like this will have the desired impact of electrifying Nigeria,” Saleh Mamman, Nigeria’s minister of power said during the commissioning event. Representing Abubakar Bagudu, the governor of Kebbi State, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Aminu Umar, commended President Buhari led administration’s Next Level Road Map in rural electrification and noted that “the solar hybrid mini-grid will expand and transform the economic landscape of Kebbi State. “Small businesses like welders, cold rooms, as well as processing mills can now operate more effectively with reliable and clean electricity as a result of this project,” Bugudu said. “This solar installation has 380 panels that will provide electricity to over 3,000 residents of this community. We are the land of equity and this project is further ensuring the distribution of equitable power to the people of Kebbi State.”
The governor reiterated his passion and vision to industrialise and make the State a viable economic business hub. This he said was why they have focused on the provision of electricity within Kebbi State by partnering and supporting on-grid providers, with new transformers and injection of funds to stabilise and ensure constant power supply to the state. “This power project’s impact will also be felt in other sectors, in tourism for example. With an available supply of clean energy, commerce and industrial activities will increase in the state,” the Governor added.
In his address, representative of the managing director of Rural Electrification Agency and executive director, Rural Electrification Fund, Sanusi Ohiare extolled the commitment of the Federal Government in walking the talk. “Kare- Dadin Kowa community is the second of twelve communities earmarked to benefit from Rural Electrification Fund (REF) grants. The project being commissioned here today is implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency, with the goal of providing equitable access to electricity across Nigeria. Today, REA provides electricity to 82 commercial businesses, 482 residences and over 3,180 residents (including women and children). I must state that these are exciting times because history is being made in Kare-Dadin Kowa, Kebbi State and in Nigeria as a whole.”
According to Ohiare, the people of Kare-Dadin Kowa have been provided with access to stable electricity, and this project will provide job opportunities for the industrious people of the community in engineering, construction and project management. “Thanks to the Federal Government of Nigeria’s Next level Roadmap, more Nigerians can look forward to a Nigerian dream, where access to stable power is no longer dependent on alternative sources of electricity that are harmful to our health and the environment.”
Ohiare’s gratitude included litany of thanksgiving to the private sector developer, Nayo Tropical Technology Limited for delivering the project on time and to its full capacity. He also thanked his team at the Rural Electrification Agency, particularly Damilola Ogunbiyi, managing director and chief executive officer of REA for the guidance and tenacity in ensuring that the various
initiatives earmarked under the Rural Electrification Fund come to fruition. Elated Musa Maina, district head of the community said “this community has been in darkness for too long and this is why my subjects are grateful to the Federal Government and the people of the Rural Electrification Agency, for counting us worthy to benefit from solar technology. There is no doubt that the electricity will improve the way of life of my people, intellectual ability of our
students who now have electricity to read.”
This was re-echoed in the goodwill message, by the Emir of Argungu, Samaila Muhammed Mera, who was represented by Ibrahim Hassan. Mera said “this is especially gratifying for us and our rural communities in Kebbi State. We can now experience what we would normally refer to as “the city life” now that we will have access to reliable and stable electricity. We are a small fishing and agricultural community so this is a major development as new business
opportunities in milling; processing, storage and fishery will now become a reality for our industrious people. I appreciate the dedication of the Federal Government of Nigeria in ensuring that Nigerians, irrespective of their geographical locations, can now have access to constant electricity.”
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In line with REF’s Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, private sector participation and investment was also critical to the successful implementation of the project. Anayo Okenwa, MD/CEO, Nayo Tropical Technology Limited, said that the installed solar hybrid mini grid was constructed in line with international standards and best practice. “As an indigenous firm, we are proud to have leveraged the skills and capacity of our host community, in addition to providing the enabling environment for skilled labour and job creation.”
Still on vote of thanks, the director, Rural Electrification Fund, Bulus Maiyaki commended the relentless effort of President Buhari in seeing that Nigerians have increased access to clean and reliable electricity in their homes, businesses and schools. He also gave appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Power, the National Assembly and their Committees on Power, in creating an enabling environment for the successful implementation of Rural Electrification Fund
projects across Nigeria.”
Maiyaki acknowledged the outstanding leadership role of the MD/CEO of Rural Electrification Agency, Damilola Ogunbiyi, Governor Bagudu of Kebbi State for his support, the emirs and district heads for creating an enabling environment for the project to be executed, this applied Nayo Tropical Technology Limited for its incredible efforts and professional expertise demonstrated on this project with the state-of-the art installation.
