Rural communities in Sokoto state will have a taste of urban life as the government starts the process of connecting some rural households with solar power to deepen energy consumption and enhance rural electrification in the state.
The Special Adviser to Governor Aminu Tambuwal on Public Private Partnership (PPP), Alhaji Bashir Gidado, made this known at a news conference in Sokoto last week. Alhaji Gidado said the project was a partnership between the government and Nigeria Energy Support Project (NESP), GIZ of Germany and the group known as GoSolar.
According to him, a pilot scheme had already started in Kurdula, a rural settlement in Balle town in Gudu Local Government Area of the state. He described the scheme as “an off-grid mini solar project aimed at providing solar power to rural communities that are not covered by the national grid.
Alhaji Gidado, who said that “so far, GIZ has completed the installation of the distribution network, while the next phase, which is generation network, will be provided by GoSolar”, declared that all the necessary equipment had already arrived in the country and would get to Sokoto soon
The Special Adviser assured that “on the whole, the targeted population will be provided with clean energy for domestic use and minor commercial uses at very affordable rates”.
He pointed out that the project, which would take off in the next three months was being coordinated by a State Working Group, with membership drawn from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the office of Secretary to the State Government.
Earlier, a report said the state government had provided land for the project, while payment of compensation to owners of the land to be approved by Governor Tambuwal was being processed.
