Benjamin Kalu: “Solar Power Mini-grid In Bende Is Not A Constituency Project” — Reports

Following the media verification of constituency projects (completed and ongoing), claimed to have been attracted by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Benjamin Kalu, journalists who visited Bende at the weekend reports that the solar farm in Bende is never a constituency project.

Findings show that the project is a federal government intervention programme on rural electrification, through the Rural Electrification Agency, REA.

It becomes imperative to question why the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt Honourable Benjamin Kalu through his media aides would claim that the project is a constituency project attracted by him.

The programme, which is non political is aimed at lighting up rural areas in the country and it is scattered in all regions of the country.

The Nigerian Rural Electrification Agency (REA) was created by the Electric Power Sector Reform Act in 2006. The agency exists to facilitate the provision of affordable power supply for residential, commercial, industrial and social activities in the rural and peri-urban areas of the country.

REA has previously focused on grid extension investments but is now mandated to concentrate on providing off-grid solutions to rural dwellers such as minigrids and solar home systems.

REA’s goal is to encourage and promote private sector participation in rural development using the nation’s abundant renewable energy sources while ensuring that Government Agencies, Co-operatives and Communities, actively participate in enhancing electricity service delivery.

These projects are funded through the Rural Electrification Fund, REF.

The Rural Electrification Fund (REF) is a mechanism designed to fund and stimulate electricity access in unserved and underserved rural communities, primarily in Nigeria, through initiatives like mini-grids and solar home systems.

It is a strategic financing arm of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), established by the Electricity Act and financed by sources like regulatory fines, licensee revenues, and grants. The fund’s objective is to attract public-private partnerships to deliver sustainable energy solutions that boost socio-economic activities in rural areas.

The Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, said in an interview recently that the agency is implementing programmes aimed at providing electricity access to no fewer than 17.5 million Nigerians.

In his words, “We are working on a programme to provide electricity access to 17.5 million Nigerians. That is an audacious target. Under the Rural Electrification Fund, we have deployed over 50 mini-grids. Under the Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme, we have deployed 11 mini-grids, not counting the number of transformers, power lines, and solar home systems we have also deployed.”

“From our records, we have impacted over 10 million Nigerians, and we are counting more based on the new programmes we are designing and implementing. This has been achieved in the last five years under the Nigeria Electrification Programme. The Interconnected Mini-Grid Acceleration Scheme is only three years old, and we have already completed and commissioned several projects.”

Against the foregoing, the solar farm in Bende is never a constituency project as claimed by Hon. Benjamin Kalu. The claim is entirely false and misleading.