The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has lightened up the Uhuafor Nomeh community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State with the construction of a solar hybrid mini-grid of 100kWp in the community.
The project is expected to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the people in the community and three other neighbouring communities, who have lived without electricity for over 18 years.
The project was completed under the Rural Electrification Fund – Call 2 programme of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
During the Commissioning of the project, Governor Peter Mbah, who was represented by his special adviser on power, Sir Joe Aneke, commended the Rural Electrification Agency for its unwavering commitment to bringing sustainable energy solutions to rural communities across the country. He said the electricity project in Nomeh would bring lasting solutions to the problems of lack of electricity in rural communities.
The governor noted that the project aligns with his agenda of fostering innovation, improving rural infrastructure, and creating a green, energy-sufficient state.
“Let me thank the Rural Electrification Agency for their collaboration, the dedicated engineers and technicians for their expertise, and, most importantly, the people of Nomeh for your patience and belief in this project as the first mini-grid solar power plant is commissioned in Nomeh,” he said.
He also urged the people of the Nomeh community to take full advantage of the project and care for the shared asset, as it is their resource for growth and betterment, saying, “this facility must be protected to ensure it serves the community reliably and sustainably while the network system is extended to connect other households and villages in Nomeh”.
Mbah disclosed his administration’s readiness to work with the Rural Electrification Agency to develop other projects proposed for the State and looked forward to engaging with the agency in that regard.
The REA Managing Director/CEO, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, represented by the Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund, Engr. Doris Uboh stated that the project is one of the many testaments of the work that the federal government does through REA, connecting last-mile communities to clean, sustainable energy sources and facilitating the growth of socioeconomic systems through productive use.
Aliyu told them that President Bola Tinubu prioritises their welfare and that of rural communities across the country and would continue working to ensure no community was left behind.
“This electrification will help the people to navigate and if you manage this thing well, before you know it, the business activities happening in the cities will begin to bubble here.
“Promise yourself that you will take care of this mini-grid. If you do it, it can grow to even one megawatt. This will easily encourage future expansion to other nearby communities”, he said.
Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Ikechukwu Mbah, while expressing his gratitude to the Federal Government and the implementers of the project for finding the community worthy to provide this kind of infrastructure which will improve their livelihoods, noted that the community had been without electricity for over 18 years.
He said: “We have been in a celebratory mood since this project was completed. This is because since 2006 till date, we haven’t seen electricity in Nomeh. But, we can now drink cold water in our community, while our children who used to burn the proverbial midnight candle, are now using electric bulbs to study.
“So, this day has brought good tidings to all of us in Nomeh and I want to assure the federal government of our commitment to ensure the safety and security of this infrastructure”.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is the Implementing Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) under the Federal Ministry of Power tasked with the electrification of unserved and underserved communities to catalyze economic growth and improve the quality of life for Nigerians. The Agency was established under part IX, Sections 88- 89 of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA), 2005.
The REA is currently implementing the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Capital Projects, Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), Solar Power Naija (SPN), Energizing Education Programme (EEP), Energizing Economies Initiative (EEI), Energizing Agriculture Programme (EAP), Energy for All – Mass Rural Electrification, Research and Innovation Hub, Africa Mini Grids Programme, Derisking Sustainable Off-Grid Lighting Solutions and the Korean Energy Project
The Agency is responsible for creating an enabling environment for private sector-led projects, which includes conducting feasibility assessments, energy audits, enumeration, data analysis, identification of qualified private sector developers, and project stakeholder engagements.
Dominica Nwabufo
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