Ag President Prof Yemi Osinbajo with FCT Minister Alhaji Mohammed Bello at the home of a beneficiary of the Solar Home System Program “Beyond the Grid” in Wuna, Gwagwalada. Photo by: Novo Isioro

The Federal Government has inaugurated 200 solar home systems in the FCT to increase electricity generation from 13 per cent in 2015 to 36 per cent in 2030.

The Acting President, Prof. Yomi Osibanjo, inaugurated the project on Tuesday in Wuna community, Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT.

Osibanjo said that the federal government was committed to improving access to power for the people.

According to him, 20,000 units of solar home systems would be deployed to rural off-grid communities who before now rely on candles and kerosene for light.

Osibanjo explained that the grid was the transmission centres and more would be deployed across the country, especially in places that were not served by the national grid.

“Once the grid is deployed, it will create more jobs as well as improve the technology and skills of people in the community.

“Our country has one of the best radiations in the world and it will be best for solar power,’’ he said.

Earlier, Mr Christopher Bransfield-Grath, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Azuri Technologies handling the system, noted that the initiative would enable people to access sustainable and renewable power.

He said that it would increase productivity and economic activity for farmers as well as increase security for homes and communities bedeviled in darkness.

The CEO said that the ultimate goal was to deploy across Nigeria and empower more than 70 million Nigerians with clean, sustainable and reliable solar homes solutions.

Bransfield-Grath said the country’s commitment to increase its energy mix was an opportunity for a reliable solar alternative to address the challenges of energy access.

Meanwhile, Mr Chiedu Ugbo, Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), said the company was delighted to partner with Azuri to improve energy productivity in the country.

Ugbo said the company was involved in the initiative on rural solar home lighting system where 20,000 unit solar home systems of no grid electricity supply.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the federal government, Azuri and NDPHC are working to improve the challenges of power supply in rural communities. (NAN)