Power minister reveals FG’s plans on ‘Operation Light up Rural Nigeria’

Following a recent initiative by the federal government to ensure that every community in Nigeria enjoys power supply, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo has stated that no effort would be spared in implementing the Operation Light up Rural Nigeria project.

Operation Light up Rural Nigeria is an off-grid electrification project initiated by the present administration under the leader of the current Minister of Power to provide solar powere to rural communities across the country. President Goodluck Jonathan, who launched the programme in three communities of the FCT a few months ago, said the project would be expanded to include private sector financing. The pilot projects are to be replicated in all senatorial zones in Nigeria. Prof. Nebo who spoke through his Special Assistant on Renewable Energy, Dr Albert Okorogu while fielding questions on a radio program in Abuja on Tuesday, maintained that plans were on to extend the solar-powered initiative to remote parts of the country that are yet to be connected to the national grid.

He said “the Operation Light up Rural Nigeria Project is still very much on course. We are currently partnering with local or indigenous investors to ensure speedy execution of the electrification programme. “It is the vision of Mr. President to provide steady power to all Nigerians wherever anyone finds himself. The entire electrification project which has been embarked upon is receiving prompt attention. There is no way one will say we are slow, that’s not the true picture of what is happening. “At the moment, rural communities which are not connected to the national grid are being identified for solar-powered-electricity. I expect that such communities should contact us so that they will be captured as well, in case any of them feel they are left behind.”