The Bank of Industry (BoI) has commissioned a solar powered electricity in Makarfi Local Government of Kaduna State, lighting up over 200 homes that were not connect to the national grid.
The electrification project covers a six km distribution network, and is also capable of providing commercial and domestic ventures with electricity.
At the commissioning of the project at Charwa and Chakun communities, acting Managing Director of the Bank, Waheed Olagunju, said the Rural Electrification Project was financed in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme.
He stated that the Rural Electrification Project was conceived by the bank not only to improve living standards of the rural dwellers, but also to boost economic activities in such areas.
Sufficient Solar Electricity
Prior to the installation of the solar power system, the over 200 households in the two villages like other remote communities across Nigeria, only ran individual electricity generators, spending huge amounts in buying petrol.
With the commissioning of the project, each home will have sufficient solar electricity to power at least three light bulbs and other gadgets. The consumers are expected to pay for only the energy they use.
Explaining the metering model, the BoI managing Director said payment would be on a pay-as-you-go basis, with each household provided with a pre-paid meter.
The MD Arnergy Solar Limited, Femi Adeyemo, who is the project consultant, gave a background of the project and its benefit while Governor Nasir El-Rufai, said that the state government would spend about 1.5 billion Naira to complete the 30 Megawatts Gurara Power Plant, to provide reliable electricity to industrial and domestic use.
Governor el-Rufai was represented by the Director General of Kaduna Power Supply Company, Dr Abdulkarim Mayere.
With the lighting up of the two communities after about 70 years of being in darkness, the Bank of Industry said it was ready to partner with all state governments on solar electrification projects in off-grid areas.
