Federal Government, through its implementing agency – Rural Electrification Agency (REA), will today (Monday) commission the 80 kilowatt (KW) solar hybrid mini-grid power plant project in Upake community, Kogi State.
The project is part of government commitment to provide electricity access to unserved and underserved communities across Nigeria, thereby increasing electricity access to particularly hard to reach areas.
Following the installation of the 80kw solar hybrid mini-grid power plant, 496 residential and commercial buildings will be connected and will receive constant electricity henceforth.
Damilola Ogunbiyi, managing director/CEO, REA, says the move to light up every nook and cranny of Nigeria reiterates the commitment of the Buhari-led administration in fulfilling its mandate to ensure electricity access for Nigerians.
According to Ogunbiyi, “More families and businesses in Upake will have access to clean, sustainable and reliable electricity from the sun. This enhances productivity and provides jobs in Upake”.
The first call of the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) will energise 12 communities and deploy 19,000 Solar Home Systems (SHS).
Upake community is one of the 12 communities to benefit from the first set of grants under the REF, which is a REA initiative. Other communities set to commission solar hybrid mini-grid in the coming weeks include Kare, Dadin-Kowa and Tsulaye communities in Kebbi State, and Akpabom community in Akwa Ibom State.
The REA is tasked with electrification of unserved and underserved communities. The REF provides equitable access to electricity across Nigeria to maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits of rural electrification grants, to promote off-grid electrification, and to stimulate innovative approaches to rural electrification. REF projects are administered using a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
