The European Union has pledged £10.4m to electrify primary health centres across Nigeria.
The project, which would be implemented by NTU International, is aimed at providing a 24-hour green and reliable electricity supply to health centres and reducing CO2 emissions.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Steering Committee for the Nigeria Solar for Health Project in Abuja on Thursday, the Head of Cooperation for the EU in Nigeria, Massimo De Luca, announced that five health centres in nine states would be selected for the electrification project.
He said, “This project is standing out not only because we are going to install infrastructure in these centres, but because they are going to establish a management system of the health care and the community surrounding the health care so that the infrastructure and the solution that we are going to bring with this project may really provide a long-term solution for the provision of electricity.
“Another thing is that also an element of the integrity of this project is about the identification of the 45 sites, broadly in nine states. We are going to select nine states and 45 sites, five per state.
“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, and they include not only the financial contribution that may be required on the other side of the alliance.”
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who was represented by the Director, Renewable Energy and Rural Access, Federal Ministry of Power, Owolabi Sunday, said the absence of constant power supply in health centres has limited their abilities.
He said, “The lack of access to sustainable electricity limits health facilities’ ability to provide quality care. Without a reliable power supply, hospitals and clinics cannot store vaccines, operate for longer hours or perform life-saving complicated procedures. Also, the lack of reliable power supply is a major hindrance to SME performance in the country.
“Over the past few years, the Federal Ministry of Power has been steadfast in its mission to transform Nigeria’s power sector.”
The Stakeholder Manager, NTU International, Tinyan Ogiehor, said 10 states had so far indicated interest in the project.
He said, “The EU has done quite a lot in supporting the energy system in Nigeria towards achieving clean and accessible energy in Nigeria.
“A counterpart funding from state governments is required, which would be used for the operations and maintenance of the deployed solar systems. We are having discussions with the community to be involved themselves.
“States are eager to support the electrification of their health facilities, so far, at least ten states have already approached us to get involved in the project. We look forward to it being expanded.”