It was a moment of excitement for members of Adafila community in Orire Local Council of Oyo State as they witnessed electricity supply for the first time in 45 years.
Elated, the community members trooped out en masse on Monday to savour the development and shower praise on Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.
The triumph came courtesy of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), an arm of the Ministry of Power, in collaboration with World Bank and Havenhill Synergy Ltd.
The Guardian learnt that Adafila community, which has 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, told The Guardian 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 him, the agrarian Adafila community is one of such beneficiaries.
He said the Rural Electrification Agency, in collaboration with the World Bank, installed a 100kWp 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.”
