The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has embarked on massive electrification project and instillation of mini-grid solar power system across agricultural communities in Nigeria.
The project being executed by the agency through a private developer, Cloud Energy Photoelectric Limited, is aimed at boosting agricultural production and reducing poverty in rural communities across the country.
Speaking after inspecting one of the projects which is a 100kw solar mini grid power plant in Gurin, Fufore local government area of Adamawa state, weekend, the managing director and chief executive officer of the agency, Ahmed Salihijo, said the project is geared towards boosting agricultural production in the country and bringing sucour to rural dwellers.
“The overall goal of the project is to boost agricultural production and boost economic activities in the country and as you know, Gurin is a hub for rice milling.
“The idea is to provide power for rice processors so that their dependent on petrol will be reduced to the minimum.
“The system is designed to prioritise produce users including agro- processing businesses, homes and public spaces. But the key is to ensure that this project goes to communities that have existing economic activities so they can be able to afford and use the power,” he stated.
He said the Gurin project which is a large agricultural community in terms of rice processing is one out of the six other similar solar power instillations system embarked upon by the agency under its mass electrification for poverty reduction programme to support productive enterprises around agricultural clusters.
