The Federal Government on Thursday signed an agreement with the United Kingdom on the use of solar energy to provide electricity to rural people.
Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo, who led Nigeria’s delegation to the event at the Facebook Headquarters in London, signed the agreement on behalf of the Federal Government while the UK Minister of State for International Development, Mr Grant Shapps, signed on behalf of the UK government.
Osinbajo while at the event stated that his presence at the launch was to underscore Nigeria’s commitment to national and regional effort to improve accessibility to power, especially solar power for the people.
He noted that Nigeria will ensure that the campaign to boost supply and consumption of solar energy is invigorated, adding that the Federal Government would work closely with the DFID.
According to Osinbajo, the programme was an opportunity for Africa.
His words, “With the cost of solar power 20 years ago that would have been impossible; the combination of innovation in technology, the low cost of solar power has made this all the more possible.
”This is an incredible opportunity in Africa, especially Nigeria with over 96 million people who do not have access to power.’’
Osinbajo who stated that the usage of kerosene had created a lot of safety and environmental issues stressed that, ”a default energy source should be solar and the option was not available for so long, but now it is cheaper, safer, and more environmentally friendly’’.
The VP observed that the campaign was an opportunity for investment that will improve with time, just like case of the telecommunications sector in the country.
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