Residents in Edo community applaud FG for solar hybrid power installation

Residents of Adebayo Community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo on Thursday commended the Federal Government for the installation of a 100KW Solar Hybrid Power plant in their community.

Reports state that the Federal Government through the Rural Electrification Agency inaugurated a 100KW Solar Hybrid mini grid power plant in Adebayo community on Wednesday.

The Village head of the community, Chief Lateef Agbaje, told Newsmen that the community had been in darkness for decades.

Agbaje said “we are very happy with the installation of the solar power plant in our community. We have been in darkness for a very long time.

“With this light our small businesses in the community will now grow for the benefit of our families and the community.

“Life has just started for us because we will now be able to buy electrical appliances for use in our houses. I am indeed excited.

“As it stands today, we enjoy light more than anybody else in Nigeria because the light is 24 hours. It is another world for us here,” he said.

According to him, this is a sign that the Federal Government cares about everybody, including the rural poor.

“We are hardworking people in this community, we will work harder to pay the bills to sustain the project,” he added.

Agbaje, however, appealed to the Federal Government to help construct the only road that leads to the village.

Mr Waheed Ajani, the secretary of the village power committee, also appreciated the Federal Government for the laudable project.

Ajani said the development had changed the socioeconomic status of the community adding that new businesses would spring up.

According to him, we will now have electricity at our healthcare centre which will improve patients care.

For Mrs Elizabeth Ekuma, the project created employment for her and her friends during the construction of the building housing the solar power installations.

Ekuma said, “I am happy because my village has turned into town. During the construction, we fetched the water that was used and we were being paid N1, 000 per drum.

“l benefited from the project even before the community was powered. I’m even planning to buy a deep freezer to start selling cold water,” she said.