UK: Over 5m Nigerians now enjoy solar power in their homes

The United Kingdom (UK) government says over five million Nigerians who had no access to electricity now have solar power in their homes.

In a Twitter post on Thursday, the British High Commission in Nigeria said the electricity access was made possible through the UK Aid Solar Nigeria project.

It added that the solar power project is affordable and making the lives of Nigerians better.

“Over 5 million #Nigerians with no access to electricity now have solar power at home. Affordable, reliable and making life better. Just one outcome of #UKAid Solar Nigeria changing market for climate-friendly power in #COP26countdown,” the UK in Nigeria tweeted.

Over 5 million #Nigerians with no access to electricity now have solar power at home. Affordable, reliable & making life better. Just one outcome of #UKAid Solar Nigeria changing market for climate friendly power in #COP26countdown @nayotroptech @SE4AllOrg @AdamSmithInt @COP26 pic.twitter.com/OMIven95bL

— UK in Nigeria🇬🇧🇳🇬 (@UKinNigeria) November 5, 2020

According to the commission, Konexa Energy, a UK company, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ogun state government to invest in a 250 megawatts (MW) integrated distribution model to service over 50,000 connections. improve customer service, attract investment and reduce losses by electricity distribution companies (DisCos).

Meanwhile, Saleh Mamman, minister of power, recently said Nigeria’s installed grid power generation capacity has reached 13,000MW from 8,000MW in 2015, while transmission capacity has increased to 8,000MW from 5,000MW.

The minister added that the distribution system has the capacity to evacuate 5,500MW of power, having grown from 4,500MW in 2015.