By Mustapha Salisu
The Managing Director of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Federal Ministry of Power, Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad has revealed the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) of the agency has created 1,151 jobs so far and saved 249,193 tons of carbon dioxide.
Ahmad made the disclosure during a briefing over the weekend on the implementation level of the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP).
The MD explained that, Electricity has been provided for 5m Nigerians through 1.022 connections with at least 52MW of renewable electricity generated in the off-grid sphere across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He further disclosed that, The NEP has five components comprising $213m for a solar hybrid mini-grid project, $75m for standalone Solar Home Systems (SHS), $250m for the Energising Education Programme (EEP) for 15 universities and two teaching hospitals.
“The two others are $20m for Energy Efficient Equipment to fund appliances that can generate funds like pop-corn making machines; and $37m for technical assistance and capacity building”
“Analysis of this shows it has deployed 995,396 Solar Home System (SHS), 67 mini-grid projects, 26 containers of solar energy pack for hospitals, While REA said it received 569 applications from solar power developers, it signed the grant agreement with 267 developers, and seven others for the energizing education power contract projects in seven universities and a teaching hospital”
On his part Hon. Danlami Mohammed Kurfi, Chairman, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Federal Ministry of Power, lauded the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) for granting the agency $550 million (N241.8 billion) funds
“The funds were used to provide 52 megawatts of electricity to five million Nigerians through 1,022 connections” he said
The chairman noted that Out of the $550m NEP fund, REA has disbursed $64.8m to contractors with over $300m commitment made for procurement of equipment for the contractors.
