Designed to fundamentally address the challenge of power supply in the country, the Buhari administration is this week starting a Solar Home Systems, under the Economic Sustainability Plan, where with only about N4000 monthly over a 3-year period, 25 million Nigerians not served by the national grid, will outrightly own solar panels in their residences.

Mr. Laolu Akande Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in the Vice President’s office made the disclosure in response to media inquiries about the cost of the ESP Solar programme nick named SOLAR POWER NAIJA for which installations starts in December. Akande disclosed that the ESP Solar programme is being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency, REA.

Media reports had indicated that priority will be given to Nigerians residing in rural areas and urban settlements either under-served or totally cut off the national grid.

Akande added that an important aspect of the scheme is the option of outright ownership by beneficiaries at a cost ranging from N1, 500 per week to N4, 000 monthly depending on the capacities, for a period of 3 years, noting that the arrangement allows as many as 25 million Nigerians to own personal solar systems in their respective homes.

As indicated in the Economic Sustainability Plan, the 5 Million Connections initiative is a private sector-led electricity access acceleration scheme to be facilitated by a low cost loan facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).

The objectives of the programme are:

Expand energy access to 25 million individuals (5 million new connections) through the provision of solar home systems (SHS) or connection to a mini grid;

Increase local content in the off-grid solar value chain and facilitating the growth of the local manufacturing and assembly industry

Incentivize the creation of 250,000 new jobs in the energy sector.

Emphasizing the point about benefits derivable from the programme aside the creation of access to cheap and clean energy, Akande noted the local solar assembly industry will be impacted.

He said that “the programme will include the assembly or manufacturing of components of off-grid solutions to facilitate growth of the local manufacturing industry.

“In view of the scale of materials required, solar equipment manufacturers/assemblers will be incentivized to set up facilities in Nigeria, thereby offering additional job opportunities to Nigerians. In addition, installation, servicing and payment collections are expected to provide thousands of other jobs. In all, at least 250, 000 jobs will be created.”

Explaining the role of the World Bank in the project another Presidency official who pleaded anonymity said that the World Bank which is also participating in the plan, is providing a grant to finance 20 percent of the retail cost of the solar system across the country.

The source observed that the connection of 25 million new Nigerians to clean energy and the ongoing implementation of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), amongst other measures adopted to address the energy problem, the Federal Government is indeed on course to address the nation’s energy crisis.

It will recalled that the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the lead implementing agencies of the Solar Home System had through its off-grid solar programme connected the people of Olooji community (Ijebu east) in Ogun State to electricity, for the first time in 200 years.

Olooji solar hybrid has a total capacity of 100kw completed with 304 solar panels, 72 batteries and over 30KM of distribution network cables, serving over 4000 people.

The off-grid solar project was implemented under the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) and is one of twelve solar mini grids across the country in addition to 19,000 solar home systems implemented under the programme through a Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Jagznation:
If it can serve 24/7 I'll gladly pay

Kosoco:
Even at this stage Nigeria is still talking about light since 1999. Haba which way Politicians which way....

uniqueboi1:
You cannot provide ordinary light you want to bill people for solar power. Na una create sun?

HallaDaTruth:
Trash government

OOzz:
That clueless cow and his gang of thieves will not die good death

uniqueboi1:
You cannot provide ordinary light you want to bill people for solar power. Na una create sun?

codedguy1:


Useless govt. People look for ways to survive by providing everything for themselves and this govt who have come to steal, kill destroy will come up with a policy to continue to milk what they cannot provide.

That is Joe Fashola wanted to start charging for generators.

Borehole nko they look for ways to gain from it with that useless water bill, now its to pay for solar energy as if they provided the sun.

We will soon start paying for the air we breath.

The cow and his cohorts cannot surprise me again.

saintbillion:
heheh ask them oooo if na them creat sun lol

saintbillion:
lol NEPA no serve 5hrs an solar go do?

uniqueboi1:
You cannot provide ordinary light you want to bill people for solar power. Na una create sun?

AndroBlaze:


It seems you know very little about solar and its capabilities.

Jagznation:
If it can serve 24/7 I'll gladly pay

Jagznation:
If it can serve 24/7 I'll gladly pay

Ottyn01:
Mtseeeew

Like we care!!!

iluvdonjazzy:
not just 24 hours but the question should be, can it carry heavy load, like air-conditioners, refrigerators, pressing iron, electric cooker and the rest.

tobechi74:


It is for rural areas. Most villages do not have cooker, air conditioni etc na bulb and phone charging

Jagznation:
If it can serve 24/7 I'll gladly pay