The provision of solar energy in Shape community in Apo, FCT, has increased social interaction, including education among the community members, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
A NAN correspondent who visited the community on Monday, observed that most of the community members, mostly men, were watching the ongoing World Cup matches at the viewing centre.
NAN gathered that the community was without electricity until January, when the Federal Government inaugurated a 100-kilowatt solar energy for the community of over 1,300 people.
The project was provided under the “Light-Up Rural Nigeria” initiative inaugurated by President Goodluck Jonathan in the three communities of Durumi, Shape and Wura in Bwari Area Council.
It is aimed at using renewable energy to provide electricity to rural communities in all the 36 states of the federation, especially communities not connected to the National Grid.
Mr George Yohanna, a business man, told NAN that most residents were using candles before, as they could not afford to buy generators.
“Life was miserable for us that time; all that we were after was to light candles for us to see and enter our rooms to sleep; but now we have electricity 24 hours.
“This community was boring that time; but now, we are proud to have electricity; we can watch television and we have been watching all the FIFA matches here.
“ The project has really transformed our lives and it has enhanced the education of our children.
“ The students can read when they come back from schools, unlike before, when there was no electricity. In fact, they were always afraid to use candles to read,’’ he said.
Similarly, Mr Yakubu Kuruzi, the Head of Shape Community, expressed appreciation to the president for choosing the community as a pilot scheme for the “Light-Up Rural Nigeria” project.
Kuruzi said the community had become a model for other neighbouring communities, adding that they were always asking us what qualified us for the project.
“Now, we can use fans, watch televisions and charge our phones. We have over 500 charging points built by the Federal Government as part of the project.
“Also, our children can read at night till anytime. So, the community is full of appreciation for the project,’’ he said.
Also speaking, Mrs Tina Kuruzi said that the provision of electricity has made her to enjoy doing her house chores in the evenings, adding “life is better and enjoyable than before”.
She called on the Federal Government to provide more facilities for communities, such as hospital and schools.
According to her, their children go to school in other communities and that they receive medical attention in another community.
The Consultant of the project, Mr Ifeanyi Eze, said that most of the facilities used for the project were derived locally, to meet the electricity demands of rural dwellers.
Eze, a Lead Consultant of the Presidential Energy Reform Agenda on Operation Light-Up Rural Nigeria said the project comprised of both stand-alone solar and central solar grid system.
“Energy is transmitted through a solar mini-grid with three sub-stations located strategically in the community.
“This is a pilot project; the Federal Government has directed, through the Ministry of Power, that every state should have three villages powered by solar energy across the country.
He said that renewable energy, especially solar was cheaper compared to hydro-power and other sources of electricity.
According to him, the project, which has a life span of 27 years, was completed in less than three months, adding that, it could solve the energy needs in the country, mostly in rural areas.
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Reporting by Babatunde Akinsola in Lagos, Nigeria.
