In a bid to spur economic development in rural areas, Cross River State Governor, Prince Bassey Otu has commissioned a 440kwp capacity mini solar grid to provide uninterrupted power supply to four communities in Etung local government area.
Speaking at the official commissioning ceremony in Etomi community on Wednesday 5 March 2025, Governor Otu said that the government is working to ensure that rural communities in the 196 wards have access to clean energy through solar.
The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Prince Eka Williams, said the state would collaborate with the federal government and foreign donor agencies willing to light up rural communities to ensure no household was left out.
He pledged to bring the dividends of democracy to small business holders who desperately need light to stay afloat, in addition to other social amenities that make life comfortable.
Engr (Mrs) Ngozi Ejiogu, who represented the Director General, Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Abubakar, said it is within the agency’s mandate to ensure that rural communities across Nigeria have access to clean energy, stating that solar power is one of the sources of clean energy.
Ejiogu said the mini solar grid would provide the communities with considerable amount of electricity, stating that they could still expand the capacity if they so desire.
Representative of the European Union (EU), Mr Eckhard Heine, expressed commitment of the EU to provide clean energy to communities in Africa, and Nigeria in particular.
Heine who also represented Giz, a German company that is the technical partner, said the project was a collaborative effort between the federal government’s Rural Electrification Agency, Cross River State government and the EU. He said Cross River is one of the pilot states for the implementation. He thanked the state for keying into the project, stating that it would be expanded in the future.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Power and Renewable Energy, Prince Eka Williams, said the ministry was committed to actualizing the vision of the Governor to light up rural communities in the state.
“To achieve this, we are working hand in hand with the Rural Electrification Agency at the federal level and donor agencies,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the communities, AIG Joseph Mbu retired, expressed happiness over the project and pledged to take ownership and protect the project against vandals. He also thanked the president and governor Otu for remembering them, while asking for more infrastructural development in their communities.
