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The Federal government has assured that more local Engineers and experts will be considered in the installation and development of solar energy infrastructure in the country.
Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy Agba gave the assurances in Edo State on Thursday where he appeared as guest in the state’s Solar Engineers Exhibition exercise.
The Minister said that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has demonstrated commitment to local content in the planning and execution of projects across all sector with the signing into law, Executive Order Five.
He explained that the Order which became a law in 2018 is a testament to government’s efforts towards promoting development of local content in science and technology.
According to him, “I’m very impressed with what I have seen here today and I can assure you that our government is very committed to not only creating enabling environment for these talents to thrive but we will partner with them in the planning and implementation of renewable energy infrastructure in the country.
We came to Edo to commission a 100KWP solar hybrid mini-grid power plant in Adebayo community, Ovia-South local government area. We worked with some local engineers for the installation of the project. Going forward, we’ll engage more of these local engineers as we continue to implement our policy on electrifying rural communities”.
Also speaking, the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki thanked the Minister for the project in Edo as well as turning up for the exhibition exercise.
He said that “I think the time to take the renewable energy more seriously is now. With the hike in electricity tariffs, in terms of costing, I think the renewable energy offers better bargain for Nigerians.
“Although there’s a lot of electricity projects in Edo, there are still many villages that we need to electrify. I went to all the wards during the campaigns and there are a lot of villages that are yet to have light. I promised them light because our government is a government of light, therefore, we’ll partner with the federal government and Rural Electrification Agency to ensure they get light”
He maintained that “Foundation to that is human capacity. As we can see, we have the people, we have the knowledge. As a government, we will partner and continue to support them. We have a site along Sapele road that we will establish Renewable Energy Hub. We have secured the funds and will start work there in 60 days”.
Obaseki added that “in the area of clusters, we have secured funds from the CBN and Micro Finance Banks but we will need technical assistance from the REA to support our local Engineers. For us, as a government, anything they want we will give them to ensure they succeed.
“I want to thank you for coming and hope that the next time you come to Edo State, you’ll be coming to commission Jedy-Agba center for Renewable Energy”.
On his part, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad explained that the government is working with the private sector to ensure proper maintenance of solar energy infrastructure in the country.
Ahmad said that “Government has adopted a model that involve working with the private sector to install and maintain the projects. It’s not like the government is installing and leaving the infrastructure like that, we’re giving grants to the private sector to maintain them. We have the Rural Electrification Fund, with Dr. Sanusi Mohammed Ohiare as Executive Director where we provide grants for developers”.
Earlier, one of the solar Engineers, Chike Augustine appealed to government to reduce the barriers that delay the processes of getting clearance to invest in the sector.
