UNDP, ECN extend solar energy initiative to 10 Adamawa communities

Encouraged by the positive impact that the pilot project aimed at improving the standard of living of two rural communities recovering from the ravages of insurgency by providing solar energy has achieved in Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Northeast Nigeria, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) have extended the initiative to 10 other communities in the state.

Earlier in the year, as part of its contribution to ongoing national efforts to rebuild the North East, the UNDP and ECN initiated a project aimed at the provision of off-grid solar energy services to two communities namely-Gaya Silkami and Fala Gaya- in Hong Local Government ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency.

This was done through the installation of photovoltaic systems which currently provides the communities with essential domestic lighting, potable water supply, refrigeration for the community health centre, illuminating the community and boosting mobile communication.

Already, about 267 households have benefited directly from stand-alone PV systems installed in their homes through the project.

It would be recalled that in February 2015, rampaging Boko Haram militants invaded the villages of Fa’a Gaya and Gaya Silkami. While the former was caught unawares and suffered considerable human and material casualty, the latter had gotten wind of the attack and villagers sought refuge in the nearby mountains for some days before trekking for hundreds of kilometres – in the dead of the night on foot – to Hong.

With the insurgency subsiding, normalcy now appears to be returning to the communities as the villagers are returning to their homes, and picking up the pieces of their lives.

Mr. Muyiwa Odele who represents the UNDP Resident Representative and Country Director at the opening ceremony of the National Validation technical workshop on Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) held in Abuja recently disclosed that the initiatives are currently being replicated in 10 other communities in Adamawa State.

He said although these interventions by the Energy Commission of Nigeria and UNDP, as well as those of other development partners have recorded some successes and forms a good foundation to build upon in the country’s quest to promote sustainable energy, a lot more still needs to be done to impact positively on the lives of the Nigerian people.

Odele explained that over the years, the UNDP has been working tirelessly in partnership with ECN under the Access to Clean Energy partnership framework towards the achievement of the SE4ALL targets, as evidenced by the quality and nature of projects implemented to date.

“UNDP with support from the Global Environment Facility and in collaboration with Energy Commission of Nigeria launched the Energy Efficiency programme which made tremendous achievement by supporting the Federal government to put in place Minimum Energy performance standards for two major sets of appliances-lighting and refrigerators for regulation of sub-standard products and it also supported the government to establish Standard Energy Efficiency Testing Laboratories for lighting appliances and refrigerator at the Standard Organisation of Nigeria for quality standardisation”, he said.

According to him, the UNDP is also working in partnership with the Bank of Industry  (BOI) inaugurated the Access to Renewable Energy project, with the aim of catalyzing private investment in the renewable energy sector in Nigeria through MSMEs grants.