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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