Governor Bassey Otu has said his administration was ready to meet the 30 percent counterpart funding requirements of the Federal Rural Electrification Agency (REA) for the agency to provide mini-grid power supply to rural communities to boost the micro-economies of Cross River state.
Speaking in Calabar when the Managing Director of the REA, Mallam Abba Aliu, paid him a courtesy call, Governor Otu emphasised the importance of power supply in powering the rural economies to achieve energy and food security for the people.
He commended the REA for the provision of the 7-megawatt power supply project for steady power supply to the University of Calabar and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH.
While lauding President Bola Tinubu’s administration for putting round pegs in round holes, Otu said Cross River energy law would soon be in place, noting that with the envisioned 600 megawatt, the state would become an exporter of energy to other states.
Speaking earlier, Mallam Aliu explained that the REA responsibility was to promote and coordinate electrification programs and administers the Rural Electrification Fund to provide rural electrification through public and private sector participation in the country.
Mallam Aliu disclosed further that his Agency had secured $750 million in funding, making it the world’s largest public sector off-grid funded project.
He charged Cross River to provide the 30 percent counterpart funding as the Agency strives to the remaining 70% for projects located the State
“The state will also have to provide land which is a crucial requirement for citing any project in any state,” he said, and noted that the agency also has an initiative called ‘Energy Agriculture Initiative,’ where solar mini-grids are provided to enhance agriculture.
