By Bisola Adeyemo
As part of efforts to improve Nigeria electricity, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has inaugurated solar systems.
He stated that NGN270,945,000 will be saved from diesel consumption.
This is coming amidst the World Bank’s recent report that a total of 74 per cent of power users in Nigeria are dissatisfied with the supply of electricity across the country.
The bank, in its Power Sector Recovery Programme Opinion Research Fact Sheet, stated that while 93 per cent of metered power users paid their bills regularly, 78 per cent of electricity consumers in Nigeria received less than 12 hours of supply daily.
According to Punch News, Fashola while delivering his keynote address during the inauguration on Tuesday, Fashola said the project employed 382 artisans and 176 skilled workers throughout its duration, in fulfilment of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan of creating jobs.
He said, “It would see to the reduction of average diesel consumption from 764,248 litres per annum to 166,825 litres per annum and cost-saving of NGN270,945,000 over 20 years and contribute towards the reduction of government operational expenses and reduction of recurrent expenditure.
“It has led to the upgrade and retrofitting of our electrical appliances by replacing 400 old Air-conditioning units with 400 new inverter-based energy-efficient Air-conditioning units and replacing 2600 old light fittings with energy efficient LED ones all of which are energy-saving because they consume 40% less energy.
“With this investment we have built our own Mini-Grid, in consonance with our Administration’s policy to promote off-grid option, thereby making more of the on-grid power available to ordinary Nigerians who cannot afford the cost of investing in off-grid power.”