In a determined move geared towards addressing concerns of epileptic power in Nigeria, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has powered Iponri Market – a shopping complex located in Surulere, Lagos State, with off-grid electricity solutions for the market to grow businesses and drive investments.
The deployment of the off-grid electricity for the market is coordinated by the REA through its Energising Economies Initiative (EEI), which aims to assist over 80,000 shops within a year, empower over 340,000 micro, small and medium-size enterprises, create over 2,500 jobs with the initial 16 economic clusters while serving over 18 million Nigerians.
The EEI supports the rapid deployment of off-grid electricity solutions to provide clean, safe, affordable and reliable electricity to economic clusters comprising of market places, shopping centres, and industrial facilities in Nigeria through private sector developers.
Businesses in Iponri Market, REA said in a statement issued on Sunday, mainly souvenir shops, electronic products, tailoring, financial and printing services. With over 450 shops, which are currently metered and energised, with the remaining shops also to be electrified, the market is being electrified with world-class solar stand-alone systems technology within hubs installed across the market.
Babatunde Fashola, minister of power, works and housing, and the managing director, REA, Damilola Ogunbiyi, inspected the off-grid electrification of the Iponri Market on Saturday while lauding the initiative as a major step in the federal government’s ease of doing business drive.
Fashola during the on the spot assessment of the market said, “The people that drive our economy deserve reliable electricity. They are in markets, they are in shopping malls, they are in corners, and they are in small shops. They constitute the best in any economy.
“This administration understands energy is an important component of their business. Now the solution that has been deployed it has reduced the cost they incur to run their businesses. We are now also implementing, a policy that no government before us committed to, developing energy through mini grids. Iponri Market is now being powered by solar. This solution is also in Sabon Gari market, Kano state and it is coming up in many other markets.”
In her own submission, Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO at the REA said, “Iponri further underscores the Federal Government of Nigeria’s commitment to the deployment of clean, reliable and affordable energy solutions in our markets by providing the enabling environment for targeted economic growth through private sector partnerships.
“Iponri Market Energy Solutions Limited is honoured that the Honourable Minister is visiting Iponri Market Energy Solutions here at Iponri market. This visit has shown that a decentralized model of energy provision is in line with the objectives of the Energizing Economies Initiative.” – Ademola Adesina, CEO Rensource/Iponri Market Energy Solutions Limited
“I am very happy to come to my shop now since there is clean and constant solar power supply waiting for me in my shop.” – Morounke Odubiro, Shop owner (Iponri Market)
“The solar power solution will eradicate noise and air pollution in the market and has encouraged customers to spend more time in the shop” Wasiu Oriade Adetunji, Chairman (Baba Oloja), Shop Owners Association (Iponri market)
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