Photo Caption
L-R: Hon. Minister, MNDD, Engr. Abubakar Momoh; Managing Director, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku; MD/CEO, SAF-AGA, Godbless Safugha, and the CEO, NXT Grid, Fabio De Pascale during a courtesy visit to the Hon. Minister in his office
By Ignatius Ushie
Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Development has called for the adoption and introduction of renewable energy for the provision of electricity in remote areas of the Niger Delta region to improve the quality of life and enhance development in the region.
In a statement made available to Transport Day in Abuja, the Minister made this remarks on Wednesday when officials of SAF-AGA, a Solar Hybrid Mini-Grid Solar Power Partners paid him a courtesy visit, in his office, in Abuja.
The former lawmaker, who commended the alternative energy company for its efforts in the region, explained that the adoption of clean or renewable energy to remote areas in the Niger Delta region will help improve the living standard of the people in all ramifications.
He noted that “solar energy, generated from solar powered system is clean energy, cleaner than gas which is transition energy. Adopting solar powered energy is adapting to global best practices, moving away from fossil energy that consumes a lot of resources in building and operating a transmission station.” Adding that, “clean energy is invoked globally and would also earn “carbon credit”, he said.
He assured that the Ministry will soon key into alternative energy sources to see that most of the communities that are hitherto not connected to the national grid will also have access to power via the solar powered system.
Earlier, the managing director, SAF-AGA, Godbless Safugha, explained that their focus is to develop mini grid in communities that does not have access to power grid, noting that they have started with four communities in the Niger Delta, in Delta state.
Also, two mini grids is being constructed each in Bomadi and Burutu area.
“Out of these four grids, we are able to complete one grid. The four grids would empower 2,500 households, the one that will be commissioned soon is connected to 350 households and we hope to expand to 595 households”, he stated.
