REA electrifies four COVID-19 health facilities with solar

John Ofikhenua, Abuja 

Rural Electrification Agency (REA) on Wednesday handed over two completed solar hybrid mini grid plants in Abuja and Lagos.

Its Managing Director, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, made this known in a statement to The Nation in Abuja.

According to the statement, the two other completed solar hybrid mini grids are slated to be handed over on Thursday in Ogun state.

It is part of the agency’s support in stemming the tide against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the handover of the project, Ahmad reiterated REA’s support in containing Covid-19 and commitment towards electrification of unserved and underserved areas across the country.

The statement quoted him as saying: “The REA being the implementing Agency of the Federal Government for the electrification of unserved and underserved areas across the country hereby provides and hands over this 53.1KWp solar hybrid mini grid at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Covid-19 Isolation Center.

“This project is one of initial four solar hybrid mini grids implemented by the REA at Covid-19 health facilities.

“The other three are 25KWp solar mini grid at the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Public Health Laboratory in Lagos, 20KWp solar hybrid mini grid at 128 Bed Ikenne Isolation Center and 10KWp solar Mini hybrid mini grid at 100 Bed Iberekodo Isolation Centre in Ogun state.

“Implementing these projects will provide clean, safe and reliable electricity to enable our health workers thrive towards the fight against this Covid-19 disease”.

The projects handed over to authorities at the health centres include a 53.1KWp solar hybrid mini grid installed at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Covid-19 Isolation Centre, 25KWp solar hybrid mini grid at Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Public Health Laboratory in Lagos as well as a 20KWp solar hybrid mini grid at 128 Bed Ikenne Isolation Center and 10KWp solar Mini hybrid mini grid at 100 Bed Iberekodo isolation Center in Ogun state.

The statement also quoted the representatives of NCDC as saying  “We applaud this generous gesture by the Rural Electrification Agency of providing these solar hybrid mini grids to COVID-19 isolation centers and the public health laboratory in Lagos state.

“This will truly help our health workers in containing the spread of Covid-19 in the country.”

The REA CEO statement said  the beneficiary institutions of the solar mini grids thanked the Federal Government and the REA for delivering this project towards combating Covid-19.

They mentioned the project will not only provide constant power to their centres to help combat Covid-19, it will also provide a conducive environment for patients to recover from this disease.