Minister Seeks  NASS Support for Rural Electrification Agency

Minister Seeks  NASS Support for Rural Electrification Agency

The Honourable Minister of Power, Mr. Goddy Jedy-Agba, OFR has commended the MD/CEO, REA, Salihijo Ahmed for his good leadership style in piloting the affairs of the Agency, stating that the agency has been carrying out its mandates effectively.

He stated this at the REA-NASS Workshop held in Abuja recently, noting that the Agency needed the full support of the National Assembly to get the right appropriation in 2020/2021 budget so that it can discharge its mandate and to ensure that about 80 Million Nigerians have access to electricity.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawal, represented by Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in his remarks, said that the 9th Senate is determined to ensure that Nigerians benefit from all reforms in the power sector. “I have mandated the Members of the Committee on Power to focus on the sector thoroughly. This Workshop provides an opportunity to also engage the REA on the renewable energy projects they are implementing as mandated by the Federal Government”.

Speaking earlier, the Managing Director/CEO, Rural Electrification Agency, Salihijo Ahmed, in his welcome remarks, said the agency has a funding gap of over $2 Billion required to power 80 million Nigerians who currently do not have access to electrification.

He also said that the workshop was to draw the attention of the law makers to the resources that the agency required for its operation, especially in 2020 budget, and also to share the experiences of the agency with the senators.

He said “the concern of the agency is not just to have electricity but a consideration of the transformation of economies with the provision of power, and the most important is that we have a gap of over $2bn which we required to power 80 million Nigerians who do not currently have electricity”.

He revealed that the agency has energized 13,000 shops, 12 communities and 37 Federal Universities through Energized Education Fund Programme (EEF) which has been designed to providing sustainable and clean power supply to rural areas.

Egwim Perpetua

IOI

For:  Head of Press