FG Completes 1,375 Rural Power Projects With N45.89bn

By Clement Alphonsus

According to the latest figures obtained from the Rural Electrification Agency, the Federal Government has completed a total of 1,375 rural power projects in various communities across the country with the sum of N45.89bn within a period of three years.

Data from the agency indicated that between 2020 and 2022, the Federal Government, through its REA, undertook the projects by growing the capacity of the national power grid, increasing the number of mini-grids, deploying solar home systems, as well as installing solar street lights.

“Capital projects in the last three years, 2020 – 2022, is 1,375 in number. Total projects cost is N45.89bn,” the REA stated in its 2022 Strategic Interventions report, obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Friday.

The report stated that a total of 67 mini-grids developed during the three-year period, provided 0.64MW of electricity to 657.14 households, comprising of a total of 3,290 persons, while N6.35bn was spent on this particular project.

The government, through its rural power agency, also provided 556 solar homes systems to support 2,780 people, at a cost of N1.03bn during the three-year period.

It was further gathered that a total distance of 557.5km was covered with solar street lights provided by the agency at a cost of N17.96bn during the same period.

The report outlined the agency’s interventions for the year 2022, in the delivery of capital projects, including the preliminary needs assessment and implementation framework for the 2022 electrification programmes.

It further stated that in 2022, six communities were equipped with a 100-kW solar mini-grid system.

“The systems were designed to prioritise productive users, including agro-processing businesses, homes, commercial users, as well as public spaces.

“Over 8,155 lives and 5,000 active farmers have been impacted with uninterrupted power supply and clean affordable water, translating to over 60 direct and indirect jobs created, improved security, increased productivity, improved healthcare, as well as the decommissioning of over 40 diesel and petrol generators.

“Based on the current and future estimations, the reductions in carbon emissions were also encouraging,” the agency stated.