FG unveils solar energy initiative to combat unemployment, enhance rural electrification

…Electricity price cheapest in Nigeria compared to other African nations — Adelabu

In a bid to address rising unemployment and improve access to electricity in rural areas, the Minister of Power, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu, has unveiled plans for a solar energy initiative aimed at training youths in assembling renewable energy systems.

During a recent meeting with the Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Tosin Adeyanju, Adelabu emphasised the government’s commitment to enhancing power generation and distribution while assuring Nigerians of upcoming reductions in electricity tariffs.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to empower communities and ensure sustainable energy solutions across the nation.

This was as he noted that electricity costs in the country are significantly cheaper than running generators on petrol or diesel, considering its current prices.

The Minister also argued that the price of electricity is still the cheapest in Nigeria, compared to even other African nations such as Togo, Mali and Niger Republic.

He, however, noted that the low level of income in Nigeria makes the cost look high to consumers. 

Nigerians have lamented the high cost of electricity this year following the increase of band tariffs being charged by the electricity Distribution Companies.

Currently, Band A customers are guaranteed at least 20 hours of electricity supply daily and are expected to pay N209.5 Kilowatts per hour with more citizens and manufacturers complaining of the high cost.

Delivering his remarks, Executive Secretary of the NLTF, Tosin Adeyanju praised Adelabu noting that, “Permit me to address you as a performing minister of power, because since 1999, we have not witnessed the improvement that we have in the electricity supply in the country, as we have today. Before now, many were already opting for solar as supply was abysmal. But you have restored people’s confidence in the sector since you came on board.”

He also informed the Minister that as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the agency is working to get the youths, particularly in the rural areas, to be productive by training them on how to assemble One Kilowatt of solar energy.

“We have come to you to seek partnership with you on how we can train our rural people, particularly the youths, on how they can assemble one kilowatt of solar energy. This will help a long way in addressing youth restiveness by creating employment for them, particularly those who have acquired skills such as hairdressing, vulcanizing, welding, and so on.

“This is part of our effort to help President Tinubu achieve his aim of addressing the challenges of unemployment among the rural people and the youths in general. We want to carry this out in all the local government areas of the country and since we have seen your commitment in this area of power supply, we have decided to approach your ministry for partnership to achieve this,” Adeyanju said.

Responding, the Minister said the renewable power project of the ministry was established to address the areas of the country that the grid does not cover.

“We will be very happy to work and partner with you on this project. We have agencies that are driving this renewable power project, using solar, wind, and other alternative sources of power supply that the grid cannot reach. Such agency is our Rural Electricity Agency and they will be of great value to you in this project.

“All over the world today, we are faced with two basic issues and these are food and energy securities. We can see that the cost of gas is going up globally due partly to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

“However, we must be committed to providing electricity to our rural people, particularly the youths. We can see that even those who have learnt skills have abandoned those skills and are now riding Okada for quick money.

“President Tinubu is committed to the transformation of Nigeria and youths and rural development are of great concern. If Nigerians are patient, they will realise that the government means well for them.

“We are happy with this effort and will be very willing to work and collaborate with you to achieve it,” the Minister said.