The Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman, says the Federal Government is driving a robust solar system strategy that will help in delivering power supply to Nigerians especially in the rural areas.
Mr Aaron Artimas, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the minister, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.
The minister was quoted as disclosing this in Mubi, Adamawa, during the commissioning of the Solar Nigeria Power Projects in various Local Government Areas of the state.
He said the solar power comprised various capacities in both Primary Health Centre (PHC) and Educational Institutions.
He listed the projects inaugurated to include,, 78 kiloWatts (KW) in Maiha Cottage Hospital, 78kW in Gulak Cottage Hospital, 104kW in Garkida Hospital 104kW in Michika General Hospital 104kW in Mubi General Hospital. Others he said were, 208kW in College of Health Technology, Mubi, 36kW in Michika Maternity Hospital and 36kW in PHC Ga’anda.
He said the projects were conceived under technical assistance grant programme which was a bilateral cooperation programme, funded by the European Union (EU).
“The project is implemented by the Department for International Development (DFID) with oversight function provided by the ministry of power,” he said.
Speaking on the projects, Mamman said they were also implemented under a framework, which provided sustainable, reliable and affordable energy supply consistent with the nation’s commitment to achieve United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We are grateful to the EU and their implementation partners who collaborated with us to develop these projects.
“Providing reliable electricity supply, which will improve the lives of people through improved: health care, education, water and jobs creation.
“Our being here today reflect a deliberate demonstration of the importance both the state and Federal Government attached to the provision of electricity in remote and underserved rural communities all over Nigeria, using distributed power generation with locally available resource such as solar, ” he said.
The minister said the projects also demonstrated Federal Government’s appreciation for the support received by the projects from our development partners, the EU.
I want to charge Adamawa government to scale up these pilot solar projects and ensure its sustainability,” he said.
Mamman also spoke on Federal Government’s readiness for more strategic partnerships, highlighting that the administration had developed the required policies and regulatory instruments that allowed government to work closely with development partners. ”
And also with the private sector to lay a solid foundation upon which the people, including those in rural areas will have access to reliable and sustainable electricity supply at affordable prices.
“As at today, at least more than 40 new mini-grid projects have been commissioned across the country, providing reliable power supply to over 40,000 people in Off-Grid areas.
“These projects are mostly developed through public-private partnership, confirming the confidence of the private sector,” he said.
He said the ministry would also provide five million households with solar home systems under the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan.
Mamman said the project was aimed at increasing electricity access and reducing the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nigerians.
Speaking at the event, Gov. Umar Fintiri of Adamawa, thanked the Federal Government and its partners for all the support and cooperation given to the state while describing the projects as highly beneficial to his people.
Representatives of the EU, assured of more partnership in the energy sector, describing the support of the minister of power as encouraging.
