The Ogun State government says it will be embarking on more rural electrification projects to stem rural-urban drift and improve the living standards of the people.
Adetayo Adewale, the permanent secretary, ministry of rural development, said this at the installation of solar streetlights at Temidire Ogbonselu in Ayetoro and Biotiku Ashipa in Yewa North and Ado-Odo/Ota local government areas of the state, respectively.
Represented by Ismail Balogun, the director of rural electrification, Adewale said about 20 communities, cutting across the three senatorial districts of the state have benefited from the provision of the solar street lights.
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The PS stated that the effort was geared towards ensuring an improved standard of living for those in the rural communities, noting that the step would go a long way in curbing rural-urban migration and reduce it to the barest minimum, assuring that provision of electricity to the rural communities would be a continuous one.
He said: “The provision of solar electricity to rural communities which is one of the mandates of the ministry is to boost the economic activities of the communities, as well as to guide against any external forces.’’ He appealed to the people of the benefitting communities to ensure proper maintenance of the equipment.
Speaking on behalf of the benefitting communities, Biala Ogbonselu, the Baale of Temidire Ogbonselu, praised the state government, saying members of the communities had been looking forward to such development, promising adequate maintenance of the equipment.
