The Federal government, through its Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has intensified efforts and connected many rural communities in the Northeast and surrounding areas.
Mr Ahmad Salihijo, Managing Director (MD), of the Agency, made the declaration during the inauguration of a 30 kWp Solar Hybrid Mini Grid at Mbela Lagaje village, Mayo Belwa local government area, of Adamawa on Wednesday.
Salihijo said that the Agency was currently implementing the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), and Energising Education Programme (EEP), among others, which was aimed at boosting rapid economic development in the country.
According to the MD, the Federal government, through the agency had given adequate attention to rural electrification to improve citizens’ living standard, as well as ensure economic growth for rural communities across the country.
“Our mission at rural electrification Agency is to provide access to reliable electric power supply to rural dwellers across Nigeria irrespective of area and region.
“The core target of the mission is to attract and boost investment into the communities and generate appropriate and affordable tariff to government coffers from rural customers.
“I therefore, challenge the good people of the community to optimise these rare possibilities to create huge economic opportunities for their development ” Salihijo said.
In his address, Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, thanked the Federal government for the gigantic project, saying; “it will go along way to improving the economic and living standard of the community.”
Fintiri, represented by Alhaji Adamu Atiku, the state’s Commissioner for Works, said that at the state level, his administration had also recorded tremendous success in the area of rural infrastructure development.
“Within two years in office, we recorded tremendous achievements in the areas of infrastructure, such as electricity power supply, rehabilitation and construction of health facilities and the education sector,” Fintiri said.
In his remarks, Sen. Gabriel Suswam, Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, said that access to rural electrification had become a major part of conversation of the 9th Assembly.
Suswam, represented by Sen. Aisha Dahiru, Adamawa Central (APC), said both the Legislative and Executive arms of government had steered developmental actions towards ensuring steady deployment of electricity infrastructure across the country.
“I am glad that the support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is making the work of the committee and National Assembly members easy to ensure impactful and meaningful development for Nigerians,” Suswam said.
NAN
