World Bank To Tackle Energy Problems

The World Bank and the International Finance Corporation are to organise a “Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo’’ to tackle energy problems at the grassroots.

A statement by , the World Bank’s Communication Assistant, Mr Bamidele Oladokun in Abuja, said that the “expo’’, which would be held October had as its theme “Lighting Africa”.

“The programme is to mobilise the private sector to build sustainable markets and provide safe, affordable and modern off-grid lighting to communities which have yet to be connected to the grid.

“Today, solar and other modern off-grid lighting products offer better illumination, longer battery life, and warranties,” the statement said.

According to it, many people in Nigeria, most of them in the rural areas, lack electricity and rely on expensive, polluting and dangerous fuel-based lighting solutions, such as kerosene lamps.

“What Lighting Africa is doing is to try and make the latest lighting technology accessible to the hundreds of millions in Africa’s un-electrified rural communities and replace kerosene as a lighting source by solar and other clean sources.”

The statement quoted Arthur Itotia Njagi, the Programme Manager of Lighting Africa, Arthur Itotia Njagi as saying that the new products would improve lives by extending the working hours of small businesses.

It also quoted Njagi as saying that the products would also give children a chance to study longer in the evening in a safe and smoke-free environment as well as reduce in-door air pollution.

The statement noted that more than 1.5 million people in Africa had cleaner, safer, better lighting and improved access to energy with the support of Lighting Africa and its partners.

“The programme has been piloted in Kenya and Ghana and it is expanding to Tanzania, Ethiopia, Senegal and Mali.’’