Some residents of Port
Harcourt have commended the Federal Government’s Initiative of introducing solar energy lamps for domestic use in the country.
Some residents who reacted to the idea in a interview with The Tide said it is a welcome development especially in the rural areas where lamps are more in use.
Madam Pat Essien said if the kerosene lamps are replaced with the solar ones it would reduce risk and dangers.
“Explosions arising from the use of adulterated kerosene would be a thing of the past. It would check the situation and save lives,” she  said.
Another respondent, Mr Marvin Ejiofor, expressed similar feeling but noted that the problem with such initiatives is the inability to make the lamps available to the masses when eventually released.
“All the same, it is a lofty idea, solar system is better in terms of cleanliness and in terms of economy, it is still  cheaper,” he said.
Another respondent, Mrs Christiana Wobo, noted that the difficulty in buying kerosene would be reduced.  “You know kerosene is expensive these days. With the solar lamp, it would be easier for the house wives.
In his own reaction, George Nwafor commended the solar lamp initiative also saying it would reduce the pollution particularly from kerosene lamp sources on the environment.
The Minister of Environment, Mrs Laurentia Mallam, last week, announced the plan of the federal government to replace kerosene lamps and candles with solar lamps for demostic use.
The minister noted that solar powered lamps offer solution to clean and renewable energy and that government would partner with Total Group in distributing it to the homes at affordable prices.

Chris Oluoh