By Francis Onoiribholo / Bureau Chief, Benin
Programme Director, Community Research and Development Centre (CREDC), Godfrey Ogbemudia, has disclosed that due to epileptic power supply in the country, Nigerians spend over N796.4 billion annually on fuel to power their electric generators for their own electricity.
This figure, he said, represented Federal Government’s budget of N796.7 billion for the capital expenditure for the 2009 fiscal year for 36 states of the federation.
Launching the Nigeria Renewable Energy for All Projects in Benin, Ogbemudia lamented that in spite of the various government policies to revive the energy sector, many Nigerians still get as low as four hours of electricity supply per day, hence the need for Nigerians to embrace solar as a viable source of power.
He said CREDC has been playing a key role in the deployment of renewable energy to rural communities since 2006, part of which was the installation of stand-alone solar systems for no fewer than 550 households in Edo State.
The programme director further explained that the solar project, also known as Nigeria-REAP, was aimed at improving access to sustainable and uninterrupted electricity supply using renewable energy in collaboration with Schneider Electric.
Nigeria-REAP, according to him, was also targeted at individual homes and corporate bodies who require regular and improved electricity power, compared to the current rate of supply.
He, however, urged Nigerian electricity consumers to take advantage of solar power as the most economically viable alternative to generate their own electricity.
Among other advantages is, solar power, as a renewable energy would save the consumers the burden of paying electricity and maintenance bills, a benefit, he noted, was inescapable when using the conventional means of power supply.
“A 2009 study on electricity distribution among the six geo-political zones in Nigeria shows that some Nigerians enjoy only four to six hours of power supply.
“Also Nigerians spend about N796.4 billion on fuelling their electric generators to provide themselves with electric power.
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