The Federal Government has begun the construction of solar systems in rural communities in Lagos in order to mitigate the impact of the loss of subsidies on rural residents.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) specifically installed solar systems in schools and public health facilities at Makoko, in the Yaba region of the city.
The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, made this statement yesterday while on an inspection visit of some of the schools and hospitals where some of the Solar Home System (SHS) had already been built in Makoko.
Engr Ahmad explained that the deployment was part of the FG’s National Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy.
He stated that while the agency’s goal was to offer access to energy for unserved and underprivileged areas, the function is now more of a social service to reduce the community’s environmental and economic difficulties.
According to him, the visit was part of a bigger trip to the South West area, with stops in Osogbo, Osun, and Ijebu-Ode, all in Ogun state.
“What is clear even in the immediate aftermath is that using a de-centralized approach towards electrification of communities such as Makoko is the right approach given the difficulty of operating a traditional grid system.
“We are offering rural dwellers free solar power as part of the ongoing efforts to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal on the less privileged Nigerians,” he said.
