- Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu launched the EU-funded Nigeria Solar for Health Project (NISHP), which will provide solar power to public health facilities from 2024 to 2027.
- The project involves a steering committee with representatives from the Ministries of Power and Health, the EU delegation, and the Rural Electricity Agency.
- The EU has committed €10.4 million to electrify Nigeria’s primary healthcare centres, covering capital expenditure and technical assistance.
Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu has launched the federal steering committee for the EU-funded ‘Nigeria Solar for Health Project (NISHP)’. From 2024 to 2027, this project aims to provide solar power to public health facilities in selected states.
Sunday Owolabi, Director of Renewable Energy and Rural Access, represented the minister at the inauguration in Abuja. The steering committee includes members from the Ministries of Power and Health, the project’s technical team, the EU delegation, and the Rural Electricity Agency.
Adelabu emphasised the ministry’s commitment to electrifying healthcare facilities and SMEs with sustainable power. He highlighted initiatives to offer affordable electricity and off-grid systems, particularly to tertiary institutions.
“We appreciate the EU’s support in our clean energy efforts. Together, we can create a strong power sector that supports our health facilities and businesses, generates jobs, and boosts Nigeria’s economy,” Adelabu stated.
He also discussed the ministry’s efforts to promote energy efficiency, urging industries to adopt energy-saving technologies to reduce costs. Under the Nigeria Electrification Project, the ministry has provided 100KW off-grid systems to 50 tertiary institutions and electrified 196 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) as part of the government’s economic plans.
Tinyan Ogiehor, Stakeholder Manager at NTU International, emphasised the need for financial commitments from states to ensure the project’s sustainability. State counterpart funds will cover the maintenance of solar systems in healthcare centres.
“We will engage with communities to ensure full participation from the beneficiary states. We will also install meters in SMEs so they can pay for the electricity generated, with the funds directed to solar system maintenance. So far, ten states have shown interest, although we initially targeted five states,” Ogiehor said.
Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation for the EU and ECOWAS, highlighted the project’s management system within the healthcare framework. “We will select five states and 45 sites, with nine PHCs per state. This initiative will provide a lasting solution for electricity supply,” De Luca stated.
The EU has committed €10.4 million to the project, covering capital expenditure and technical assistance to electrify Nigeria’s primary healthcare centres.