Victor EzejaNigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, has highlighted the importance of rural electrification in the development of communities across the country.
Edun spoke during a meeting with
Join our WhatsApp ChannelManaging Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Abubakar Aliyu, at the Federal Ministry of Finance Headquarters, Abuja.
READ ALSO: Geometric Power Model Is Impressive, Says British High Commissioner
The Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency which was created by the Electric Power Sector Reform Act in 2006, is saddled with the responsibility of facilitating the provision of affordable power supply for residential, commercial, industrial and social activities in the rural and semi-urban areas across the country.
Previously, the agency’s focus was on investments in grid extension, but now, its mandate has changed to providing off-grid power solutions in rural areas such as minigrids and solar home systems, according to information on the agency’s website.
The agency also encourages private sector participation in providing off-grid solution in rural areas.
READ ALSO: Renewable Energy: The Hottest Investment Space in Africa
According to a statement by Mohammed Manga, Director, Information and Public Relations, of the Finance Ministry, REA managing director, presented an overview of the agency’s electrification projects in rural communities across the country.
The statement said Aliyu revealed that the agency has successfully established
power plants in some institutions across the country, including the Universities of Abuja, Maiduguri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Federal University Gashua, Yobe, The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and the Nigerian Defence Academy Kaduna, among others.
Edun commended the Rural Electrification Agency for its efforts and emphasised the need for raising public awareness about the agency’s work as well as its positive impact on communities across Nigeria.
Power supply challenges in the country is said to be a key factor hindering industrialisation and economic development. This requires deliberate pragmatic steps to boost power supply. The efforts by REA to increase access to electricity in rural areas is is therefore step in the right direction.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
