President Goodluck
Jonathan last Monday inaugurated operation “Light-Up Rural Nigeria,” in Durumi community, Bwari Area Council of Abuja with a pledge to ensure constant electricity supply to Nigerians.
The project is aimed at using renewable energy to get electricity across to rural communities in all the 36 states of the federation, especially communities not connected to the national grid.
“We are starting the year by giving light to our people, especially in the rural communities.
“Operation Light-up Rural Nigeria, has been initiated under the second phase of our power sector reform programme planned for the post privatisation period,’’ he said.
Jonathan said the initiative was conceived primarily to promote the use of renewable energy, thereby assisting the vision of providing reliable electricity supply to all Nigerians.
He said the project would go a long way in providing clean, cheap and reliable renewable energy that would address some of the challenges of climate change in the country.
The president said the project would be launched in at least three communities in each of the 36 states of the federation, under the first phase of the programme.
He said that the Federal Government had concluded plans to launch new policies in the first quarter of 2014 that would support the use of renewable energy across the country.
“As part of this initiative, the Federal Government will within the first quarter of 2014 launch new policies to support renewable energy.
“Part of the policies includes the national renewable energy, energy efficiency policy, rural electrification strategy plan,’’ he said.
He said that the Federal Government would continue to provide the right frame work for improved power supply across the country because of its strategic role in national growth and development.
He called on Nigerians to be vigilant and join the Federal Government in curtailing the activities of vandals and saboteurs at the various electricity equipment and facilities.
The Tide source reports that  about 1,600 households in the Durumi community was thrown into ecstasy when the project was inaugurated.
The carnival-like event was attended by traditional rulers, members of the National Assembly, technocrats and diplomats.
The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, reiterated that the initiative was conceived as a means to boost the delivery of electricity to rural community residents across the country.
Nebo said, “The first stage, which is the pilot stage, intends to utilise 100 per cent solar energy to power hundreds of communities.