The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of free solar home systems in the country towards cushioning the adverse effect of fuel subsidy removal.
The Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency, Ahmad Salihijo during an inspection visit to Makoko, Lagos over the weekend, said FG had ordered the agency to scale up on the deployment of more free solar systems to homes, schools and hospitals across the country.
This, according to him, was under the Ministry of Power’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy programme.
“We are here on a short inspection visit. REA under the supervision of the Ministry of Power came here as part of our programmes under one of our projects, the Poverty Reduction and Growth and Strategy Programme as approved by the Federal Government.
“We are mindful of the removal of fuel subsidies and have assessed that the solar systems would be more useful in areas like this, where they do not have adequate power supply. What we have done is to test how we can distribute decentralised solar systems, specifically, 150 watts to very critical places in this neighbourhood- to small schools, homes and hospitals where we can provide them with lighting points, power for their fans and televisions,” he said.
According to him, a total of 30 such solar systems have been deployed so far in the Makoko community.
“We are happy with the feedback so far because the beneficiaries have been enjoying the benefits of the systems. This programme would be continued because more funds would be approved for the deployment of more systems,” he said.
Salihijo stated that the agency had also visited Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, and Osogbo in Osun State, where solar systems had been deployed to markets and agricultural hubs.
“Although we had to charge a fee for the one deployed to markets and agricultural plantations in Ijebu and Osogbo, those deployed to homes, hospitals and schools are absolutely free of charge,” he noted.
While expressing gratitude to the Federal Government, the traditional leader of Makoko Community, Migbewe 2, Chief Jeje Albert said the community was happy with the laudable project.
For widespread benefit, he then urged the government to deploy more of such solar systems to the community
