As part of its gradual departure from fossil fuel to renewable energy, the Federal Government in collaboration with the World Bank has started the installation of solar systems in 5000 households in Abia State through the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).
Speaking on the project, a representative of NDPHC, Chinonso Ugwueke, who led the team for the installation to Abia State explained that the government introduced the solar power system initiative to provide 24-hour uninterrupted power supply to 5 million households in Nigeria through solar energy, thereby reducing the power load of the national grid.
According to Ugwueke, while Abia’s share of the solar system is 5,000, the lawmaker representing Aba South state constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Obinna Ichita, who brought the installation team to the state has also paid for 3000 solar systems to be installed in his constituency for free.
In his reaction, Hon Ichita who explained that the World Bank in conjunction with the Central Bank, Rural Electrification Agency and other stakeholders were the major sponsors of the project, said that the solar system would provide an opportunity for ‘unserved and underserved’ communities in his constituency to overcome power supply challenges.
He added that renewable energy had the capacity to provide a constant power supply for households and businesses in rural communities, thereby boosting their socio-economic development.
On his part, the regional manager of the company handling the installations, A-Solar System, Mr. Ibrahim Usman, while speaking to traditional rulers of Aba South constituency, also noted that the solar power initiative was in furtherance with the government’s goal seven of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
Mr. Usman, who said that the target of the initiative was to provide Nigerians in remote and semi-urban communities with affordable and accessible electricity outside the national grid, further explained that apart from the provision of uninterrupted solar power to the people of the state at a low cost, 1000 youths from Aba South constituency would be engaged in the installation after free training by the company.
Reacting on behalf of the people of Aba South constituency, the chairman of Aba South Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Ibe Enyeazu, expressed gratitude over the project and pledged the benefiting communities’ full support for the success of the project.
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