FG Commissions 784 Solar Power Panels

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has reiterated the commitment  of the Federal Government to the  achievement of incremental, stable and uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians as echoed in the road map designed by the Ministry, which is aimed at providing regular power supply to Nigerians.

The Minister who was represented by the Director of Renewable and Rural Access, Engr. Abayomi Adebisi, disclosed this during the Commissioning of the 2^nd phase and handover of 784 solar power panels at the Lower Usuma Dam, Bwari Area Council, FCT, Abuja.

The project which was funded and constructed by the Japanese Government under the Japan Grant Aid for the introduction of clean energy,at a cost of Nine hundred and eighty million Japanese Yen (JY980,000,000), will increase the grid capacity by 1.2MW

Fashola said some other major milestones of the project  includes increase in annual energy generation to the tune of 1,498MW per hour and reduction of water treatment electricity bill by N31m annually, which will in turn reduce the over dependence on fossil fuel.

In his speech, the Minister commended the good people of Japan for initiating the programme and used the occasion to call on private investors to tap into investing in renewable energy sources, assuring them that the Federal Government is committed to creating an enabling environment for those interested in coming into the power sector in Nigeria.

On his part, the Ambassador of Japanese Embassy in Nigeria, who was represented by Masaya Otsuka, said that power in Nigeria is among priority in Japan, and also disclosed that this project is the 10^th power project executed by JICA in Nigeria, stressing that this will not be the last in the country.

Similarly, the Chief Representative,  Japanese International  Corporation Agency. (JICA), Hirotaka Nakamura further stated that haven commissioned the 1^st phase with generating capacity of 975kwh in August last year, coupled with an additional  207kwh  totaling 1.2MW is to benefit the water treatment plant at Usuma Dam and the communities within the vicinity.

 Also speaking at the event, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Musa Bello, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of FCDA, Engr. Umar Gambo Jibrin, urged the FCT Water Board to ensure security and regular maintenance of the project, which he pointed out will strengthen bilateral relationships between Nigeria and Japan, adding that it would increase electricity and water supply to the FCT Residence.

Etore E. Thomas

Ag. Director (Press)