Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has commissioned the 100kWP solar hybrid mini grid in Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The VP in company of the Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai and Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, among other dignitaries also commissioned a modern market worth N2.2 billion.
The solar hybrid mini grid is deployed by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Blue Camel Energy Limited under the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) projects.
The solar hybrid mini grid according to the Managing Director/CEO of REA, who was represented by the Executive Director, Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Dr. Sanusi Ohiare, will provide constant and reliable electricity to over 500 shops in the market, one commercial Bank, one Police Station and one Fire Service Station.
In his address before the commissioning, Osinbajo said the solar power plant would not have been possible without the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration despite the passage of the Electric Power Reform Act in 2005, the activation of Rural Electrification only commenced in 2019, 14 years after the act was passed.
“Rural Electrification provides subsidies, a clear and transparent process. In the key Rural Electrification Farm circle so far, more than 6 Billion Naira worth of project has been executed, with 42,000 connections to estimated 200,000 Nigerians.
“There is a key focus globally on renewable electrification that we can take advantage of, especially to expand rural electrification in the country, to provide electricity for underprivileged communities.
“This rural electrification approach is laudable and I must commend the state governor for this initiative. We shall continue to expand the rural electrification” he said.
On the modern market, he said, the market symbolises effective coordination between the Federal government and Kaduna State government, stressing that Kaduna’s commitment to rebuilding and modernizing the market is apt.
“I am also happy for the Ministry of Power whom through the Rural Electrification Agency partnered with the Kaduna State government to create a sustainable free source of power for the market”.
