Kaduna State communities have had uninterrupted power supply for last two years

TWO communities in Kaduna State have had two years of uninterrupted power supply according to recent findings just published by the federal government in what is being portrayed as evidence that its electricity policy is working.

 

Nigeria has had a perennial problem of poor power supply as demand far exceeds supply and all government efforts to address the situation have failed to come up with a solution. Yesterday, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing officials revealed, however, that the Gnami and Pakau communities in Kaduna State had enjoyed uninterrupted power from the 90-kilowatt Solar PV off-grid system installed in the area.

 

Louis Edozien, the permanent secretary in the power arm of the ministry, said the feat was achieved through its renewable energy project, which provides access to electricity for rural dwellers, using solar powered systems. Mr Edozien, who was represented by the ministry’s acting director, of Renewable Energy Farauk Yabo, disclosed this when delegates from the Economic Community of West African States visited the two communities to mark the end of the regional training workshop on improvement of policy and regulatory framework for clean energy mini-grids.

 

He said the project was in line with the administration’s drive to provide electricity to rural communities that might not in the distant future have access to power supply because of their distance from the national grid. Mr Edozien explained that the 40KW solar PV mini-grid at Gnami village consisted of power generation and distribution systems, house installation systems, and street lights and metering systems, adding that it was currently supplying uninterrupted electricity to 100 households.

 

According to Mr Edozien, the 50KW solar PV renewable energy micro utility at the Pakau community was providing power to about 300 households. Also, Mr Edozien said the renewable energy facility operates on a mobile electronic payment system with provision for at least 10 business and commercial customers.

 

Speaking on behalf of the communities, Ibrahim Yerima, the village head of Gnami, expressed gratitude to the federal government and assured the delegates that the facilities would be well protected and put to proper use. In another development, the Transmission Company of Nigeria announced that it had restored electricity supply to Birinin Gwari and Yauri in Kaduna and Kebbi states, 11 days after the collapse of the tower in the area.

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