The Rural Electrification Agency has commissioned an 85 Kilowatts Solar Mini-Grid Power Plant in Dakki, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State, as part of the Federal Government’s vision of improving access to electricity by Nigerians, especially those living in rural communities.
The project executed under the Rural Electrification Fund, is expected to serve 1500 people with constant electricity.
It has a total capacity of 85 kilowatts power, consisting of 100 units of solar panels, 96 batteries, 30 kva generator, and 4.5 kilometre network approach.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Mr. Ahmed Salihijo Ahmed, said the project was designed to energize and change the socio-economic status of Dakkiti Community.
He said it was made possible through the Rural Electrification Fund of the Federal Government ad initiated to promote off-grid electrification that ensures that electricity is equitably distributed across the country, including our home here in Gombe State.
“Under the Second Ref Call, which I am happy to mention that, we have already started the procurement process for that and we are also going to come back again, here in Gombe State. It is obvious that our intervention in off-grid communities is key in accelerating true national development and great opportunities around communities such as Dakkiti,” Salihiji said.
He, however, encouraged the people of Dakkiti Community to optimize the intervention to get the maximum benefit by growing their businesses, starting new ones, which would transform their lives and those of their loved ones.
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Leading Diagonal Engineering Limited, Mr. Abdullahi Kasimu, said the project was executed in conformity with international best practice, and as such, it was not only supplying electricity to the community but equally contributing to the economic advancement of Gombe State and Nigeria as a whole.
“To the community head and the good people of Dakkiti, This project is your own, take care of it and continue to pay the electricity bills,” Mr. Kasimu said.
For Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, who commended the Federal Government for the laudable initiative, hoped the gesture would be extended to other parts of the state, while reiterating his administration’s commitment to continue to collaborate with the Federal Government on people-oriented projects for the state.
He said the project was being executed on a public-private-partnership basis, to ensure clean, safe and reliable electricity to the Dakkiti community, through the collaboration of the Rural Electrification Agency and the Leading Diagonal Egierig Limited.
Governor Yahaya urged the people of Dakkiti and their neighbours to support the project for greater success and sustainability of power supply, because it would positively change their lives for the better.
“May I urge the people of this community to consider this project as their own by guarding it against vandalism and ensuring the prompt payment of electricity bills. You should note that other communities will be watching to see how you will utilize the power plant project executed in your community,” Governor Yahaya said.
The Emir of Gona, His Royal Highness Umar Abdulsalam, who was delighted that the project was sited in his domain, thanked the Federal Government and said the project would have a positive impact on the Dakkiti Community, with evidence of prospective businesses springing, while homes and streets would fully illuminate to provide security.
He equally encouraged the people of Dakkiti Community and the neighbouring communities to utilize the electricity supply in order to prosper, while urging the Federal Government to extend the gesture to more communities.
The Chairman of Akko Local Government Area, Alhaji Abubakar Barambu, said Dakkiti Community would now experience and enjoy economic prosperity, which is a major development, as new business opportunities in milling, processing storage, as well as external trade, will now become reality to our good people of Dakkiti.”
In ensuring its sustainability, the community and the company had designed a model, in which a cooperative group was established, known as the Rural Electrification Users Cooperative Society, consisting of members of the Dakkiti Community, aimed at protecting, admitting and extending the power supply to neighbouring communities, in collaboration with the government.
