Ogun State government has said that provision of electricity to rural areas will be a continuous one to stem the tide of rural-urban drift.

The measure, according to it, will also improve the living standards of rural dwellers.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Adetayo Adewale, disclosed this during the installation of solar street-lights at Temidire Ogbonselu in Ayetoro and Biotiku Ashipa in Yewa North and Ado-Odo/Ota local councils of the state.

Adewale, who was represented by the Director of Rural Electrification, Ismail Balogun, said about 20 communities in the three senatorial districts had benefited from the provision of the solar streetlights.

He said the effort was geared towards ensuring an improved standard of living for those in the rural communities, noting that the step would go a long way in curbing rural-urban migration and reduce it to the barest minimum.

He also gave the assurance that provision of electricity to rural communities would be a continuous one.

He said: “The provision of solar electricity to rural communities, which is one of the mandates of the ministry, is to boost the economic activities of the communities, as well as guide against any external forces.”

He, therefore, appealed to the people of the benefitting communities to ensure proper maintenance of the equipment.

Baale of Temidire Ogbonselu, Chief Biala Ogbonselu, who spoke on behalf of the benefiting communities, said members of the communities had been looking forward to such development, promising adequate maintenance of the equipment.