The Federal Government through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has inaugurated an 85KWP solar mini-grid power project in Dakiti community in Gombe.
By Emmanuel Addeh
The federal government Tuesday continued its ongoing deployment of 19,000 Solar Homes Systems (SHS), with the inauguration of an 85KWP Solar Hybrid Mini-grid in Dakiti, Akko Local Government of Gombe State.
The power plant also consists of 100 solar panels, 96 batteries and over 4.5KM distribution network cables and is expected to serve over 1,500 people in the area with constant electricity.
Speaking during the event, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the implementing agency, Mr Ahmad Salihijo, noted that the project has been successfully deployed under the First REF Call of the federal government’s Rural Electrification Fund (REF), an initiative designed to promote off-grid electrification and ensure that electricity is equitably distributed across Nigeria.
BRIEF HISTORY
Electricity was first generated in Nigeria in 1866 when two
generating sets were installed to serve the Colony of Lagos. In
1951, the government of Nigeria, through an Act of Parliament,
established the Electricity Commission of Nigeria (ECN) to regulate
and operate the power supply systems in Nigeria. Subsequently, the
Niger Dam Authority (NDA) was established for the development of
the Kanji Hydroelectric Dam. In 1972, the ECN and the NDA were
merged to form the Nigerian Electric Power Authority (NEPA).
Until the enactment of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act
(EPSRA), the Nigerian power sector (with the exception of a few
Nigeria: One Year of Deepening Rural Electrification allafrica.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from allafrica.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Despite being a very challenging year for most sectors of the Nigerian economy, many remote Nigerian rural communities have had a reason to celebrate, being beneficiaries of some of the most impactful government interventions in the power sector, writes Emmanuel Addeh
Having been appointed as Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in December last year, Mr. Ahmad Salihijo, fully got down to work in January 2020, setting the tone as to the changes he was bringing to the operations of the agency saddled with the responsibility of powering unserved and underserved communities in the country.
If things were going to be done differently, it had to start from within. That prompted a series of engagements and house-cleaning sessions at the REA headquarters where extensive discussions on new plans to ensure better delivery of the agency’s mandate were put in place. This was followed by the strengthening of zonal offices for the work ahead.