Adafila community in Oriire Local Government Council, Ogbomoso of Oyo State witnessed what many of them have always termed as impossible, as they now have full access to 24 hours electricity supply. This is a community that have not seen electricity for over 45 years.
Excitement filled the air as the community members trooped out on Monday to savour the development and shower praise on the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu during the Project Inspection and Impact Assessment of the 90kWp NEP-PBG Solar Hybrid Mini Grid.
This historic feat came courtesy of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), an arm of the Ministry of Power, in collaboration with World Bank and Havenhill Synergy Ltd.
Adafila community with more than 1,400 houses, had been economically backward for decades because it lacked electricity. It was also gathered that many residents were forced to relocate because they couldn’t engage in profitable businesses.
A resident and farmer, Abdul Shakiru, 37, reported that it was the first time he was witnessing electricity.
“All I have known in this community since I grew up were generating plants and small solar devices, which a few individuals could afford. This is the first time I am seeing many houses and buildings with electricity light,” he said.
A sachet water producer, who pleaded anonymity, said: “We are very delighted to have electricity. We have been taken out of darkness to light. This will reduce crime rate among us. It will also improve the economic power of many members of the community.”
Addressing a crowd during the switch-on ceremony, Adelabu said the Federal Government has identified absence of electricity as a stumbling block to the socio-economic growth of rural communities nationwide and is determined to address it.
He said this necessitated the connection of selected communities in some local councils throughout the country to the solar mini grid.
According to Adelabu, the agrarian Adafila community is one of such beneficiaries. He said the Rural Electrification Agency, in collaboration with the World Bank, installed a 90kWp NEP-PBG solar hybrid mini grid in Adafila to alleviate the sufferings of the community.
Managing Director of REA, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, said the grid has the capacity to service about 2,000 houses, with provision for more in case of expansion. Ahmad said with the connection of Adafila to the grid, poverty and epileptic supply of power have become a thing of the past.
He added: “Adafila is a vibrant community and like many vibrant un-served and under-served communities across the nation, energy poverty remains a stumbling block to socio-economic growth.
“We have witnessed over and over again the transformative change that comes with energy access infrastructure in off-grid communities, and we celebrate with the people of Adafila for the successful completion of this 90KwP solar hybrid mini-grid.”
