President Goodluck Jonathan launched ‘Operation Light-Up Rural Nigeria’ in Durumi, in the Bwari Area Council of Abuja on Monday; a project that he said will use renewable energy to power rural communities across Nigeria.
“We are starting the year by giving light to our people, especially in the rural communities,” he said.
As part of the second phase of the Power Sector reform programme, the project will promote the use of clean, cheap and reliable renewable energy in the rural areas of Nigeria, especially those not connected to the national grid.
The project begin with three rural communities from all 36 states selected as part of the first phase, and Durumi, Shape and Wura communities in Bwari Area Council chosen as the launch sites in the FCT.
The inauguration in Durumi was attended by traditional rulers, members of the National Assembly, and diplomats, as well as the Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo, who said that the first stage will use solar energy exclusively to power the communities.
“The second stage will incorporate wind energy as an integrated solution, as soon as our researchers on the meteorological and technical specifications vis-a-vis demographics are completed. The final stage will include biomass as energy source,” Nebo said.
The FCT Minster, Bala Mohammed, described the initiative as a Public Private Partnership arrangement that is capable of harnessing alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass potentials.
“The role of power in the economic transformation of any community cannot be overemphasised,” he said.
The President called on Nigerians to join the Federal Government in limit the activities of vandals and saboteurs of electricity equipment and facilities.
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