By Patricia Amogu

Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu has inaugurated the Federal Steering Committee for the European Union (EU)-funded clean energy intervention project, “Nigeria Solar for Health Project (NISHP).

The project, a Technical Assistance for NISHP which will last three years – from 2024 to 2027 – is aimed at strengthening the healthcare system in Nigeria through the provision of solar power to public health centres in states of the federation that subscribe to it.

The Director, Renewable Energy and Rural Access in the ministry, Chief Sunday Owolabi who inaugurated the steering committee on behalf of the minister, at a workshop organised to launch the NISHP in Abuja, described the project as timely.

He praised the EU for its support and interventions in Nigeria’s clean energy transition efforts.

“We are glad that stakeholders like the EU have decided to join us in this endeavour.

“Together, we can build a robust power sector that will power our health facilities, businesses, create jobs, and propel Nigeria to new heights of economic prosperity.

“We are promoting energy efficiency measures to optimize power consumption, this includes encouraging industries to adopt energy-efficient technologies and practices, reducing waste, and lowering operational costs.

“We have provided sustainable clean energy solutions to primary and tertiary healthcare facilities.

“Under the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Beyond Initiatives of the Nigeria electrification project, we provided 100KW off-grid systems for 50 tertiary institutions.

“We have also electrified 196 PHCs as part of the Economic Sustainability plans of the Federal Government.

“We did this while implementing programmes to provide reliable and affordable power to enterprises, enabling them to scale up their operations and contribute to economic growth,” he said.

Adelabu said while the ministry has been carrying out a lot of clean energy-driven innovations, what EU is coming in to fund was a great idea in furtherance of infrastructural development-centered projects.

“We are fostering a culture of innovation in the power sector by supporting research and development initiatives expected to bring about discovery of new technologies and solutions that can further enhance our power infrastructure,” he added.

He spoke of the ministry’s commitment to the electrification of healthcare facilities and SMEs by driving reliable and sustainable power supply.

Speaking at the event, Mr Tinyan Ogiehor, the Stakeholder Manager, NTU International, the organisation implementing the project in Nigeria, explained that the project will actively engage with states and mandate them to commit counterpart funds to ensure the project is sustainable.

“The project will be running for three years starting from April 2024 to March 2027.

“EU has done quite a lot in supporting the energy system in Nigeria toward achieving clean and accessible energy in Nigeria,” he said.

According to him, a chunk of the counterpart funds from state governments will be used for the maintenance of the deployed solar systems at the healthcare centres.

“At the community level, we are going to be having discussions with the communities to encourage full engagements from the beneficiary states.

“We are going to be electrifying SMEs in the local communities such that we will provide metres in all the SMEs,

“They will pay the prevailing tariffs for the constant electricity generated from clean energy sources.

“The funds generated will also be used for the maintenance of the solar systems.

“States are eager to support electrification of their health facilities and so far at least 10 states have already approached us to seek this subscription, although we have only targeted five states.

“We look forward to expanding the projects.

“Today it could be EU; tomorrow it could be another funder,

“The reception is high and hopes are high for the healthcare system in Nigeria,” he said.

He applauded the EU for the project and the support directed at the transitioning to clean energy sources in Nigeria.

Mr Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation, European Union and Ecowas, said the project stood out not only because the bloc would be installing infrastructure in the health centres, but because a management system would be established in the project’s healthcare system.

“This unique initiative will ensure that the infrastructure and the solutions that we are going to come with this project will really provide a long-term solution for the provision of electricity,” he said.

He stated that an element of integrity that singles out the project is the identification of the 45 sites, broadly in different states, adding: “we are going to select 5 states and 45 sites, and 9 PHCs per state.”

According to him, the methodology for the identification of the sites is based on scientific principles that are basically mastered and implemented by the Joint Research Service of the UN.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EU has so far committed 10.4 million euro toward the electrification of primary health centres in Nigeria in the form of both Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and technical assistance.

NAN also reports that the steering committee is made up of members representing the Federal Ministry of Power, Federal Ministry of Health, Technical Team for the Project, EU’s Head of Delegation, and the Rural Electricity Agency, among others.

Owolabi from the power ministry will serve as Chairman of the steering committee, while Dr Oritsheweyimi Ogbe, Director, Special Duties, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency will serve as the Vice-Chairman.

Mr Godfrey Ogbemudia, of the European Union, will serve in an observer status on behalf of the bloc, while Hon. Doris Uboh, President, Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN), Mr Ayo Ademilua will serve on the committee.