Nigeria to go Solar

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In one of those African stories that make you smile just a little bit, Nigeria has initiated a plan to install solar generators that would benefit ten rural communities. The communities so far have had no access to the national power grid, and the solar power will provide a clean and simple solution.

A Lagos state government official – Lagos being the largest conurbation, or urban area, in Nigeria – said that construction had begun on the respective projects, and that contractors were likely to begin delivering the equipment sometime this coming January.

The power scheme is expected to help up to 5,000 people, living in villages in the Badagry, Epe, Eredo and Ojo local government regions. The project, which comes to a total of 150 million Naira (about $1.25 million) has been funded by the state Ministry of Science and Technology.

Africa has not been the ideal location to live of late, with rising temperatures and governments that are renowned for putting their own purses first, and the customers second. This can no way be attributed to the entire continent, but the news that escapes Africa does not provide the layman with much else to digest.

A predecessor pilot project was begun in May at the fishing village on Bishop Kodji Island, home to some 5,000 people living on a low island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Lagos lagoon. The villagers of this community for the first time have access to television in their community hall, and the churches, schools and mosques all have power. In addition, the solar power also treat water and pump it from a storage tank.

“The lifespan of the panel is 30 years according to the manufacturer. Also there is little or no maintenance; all the villagers need is to clean dust from the panels. The deep gel battery will last for 10 years,” said Adenike Boyo, director of science and technology at the Directorate of Policy, Programmes and Promotion — the ministerial department that will oversee the project.

But it isn’t just the Lago area that is relying on solar power, though Lago is definitely putting the most faith in the clean energy. In eastern Nigeria the state of Imo has been using solar energy to power their street lights and other ancillary services.

In addition a similar project, initiated by the government but with assistance from the Japanese government, was launched in 2002 and has lit some 200 rural communities in Imo, Ondo and Jigawa states as well as the capital Abuja.

SciDev.net – Rural Nigeria lights up with solar power