FG Launches Electricity Projects In Kogi

The Federal Government has launched rural electricity projects in Kogi East and West senatorial districts of the state.

The rural electricity projects are sited in Emekutu, Ikebe and Ojagbo communities in Kogi East, just as Ayetoro Gbede, Isanlu, Anguwan-Kura, Araromi and Olujumu are the benefiting communities in Kogi West senatorial district of the state.

President Muhammadu Buhari while launching the projects, said the Federal Government through a combination of options was providing electricity access to its populace, in a sustainable manner for social economic development.

The President, who was represented by the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, observed that with the provision of affordable electricity access, it was expected that the standard of living of the rural populace would be improved through quality health care service, education, agricultural production and security.

The President further explained that the strategy of this government was to provide electricity access through the implementation of grid extension projects in locations with high proximity to national grid and implementation of renewable energy, especially solar powered mini-grids, where it is economically viable to do so particularly in remote and rural areas with difficult geographical terrain.

The president said, “Electricity and energy projects are capital intensive and therefore, the task of implementing such projects cannot be borne by government alone. In this vein, my government has progressively been developing policies and regulations to provide clear roadmap and incentives to attract private sector participation in financing, developing, operating and maintenance of rural electrification projects.

“Some of the programmes of my administration designed to increase electricity access especially through renewable power in accordance with Nigeria’s commitment to reducing global warming as contained in the updated National Determined Contributions of the Paris Climate Change Accord.”

President Buhari assured Nigerians that his administration had successfully implemented and would continue to implement a wide range of infrastructural programmes that would have positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of the citizenry.

In his words, “We are determined to ensure the financial sustainability of the electricity market by enhancing our strategies to facilitate contract effectiveness.

“Additionally, in our quest to enhance universal access to electricity, we are developing economically viable off-grid projects that can be replicated all over the country.

“The commissioning of this project is a big step towards achieving our goal of increasing electrification rate to 90% by year 2030.”