REA Implements Productive Use of Equipment in Rural Communities

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

As part of efforts to ensure that rural and underserved communities have unhindered access to energy-efficient and electric productive equipment, the Rural and Electrification Agency (REA) has said that it is implementing the productive use of equipment and appliances.

The programme, it said in a statement, will encourage the use of low-cost productive appliances in unserved and underserved communities to improve rural productivity, economic growth and also rural development.

Speaking during the grant agreement signing of the productive use equipment and appliances, in Abuja, the Managing Director of the REA, Mr. Ahmad Salihijo disclosed that with support from the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), the programme will drive the sustainability of off-grid energy infrastructure across communities in the country.

“At REA, our mandate is to provide access to electricity to unserved and underserved households and MSMEs in rural communities of Nigeria. The agency from inception has continued to collaborate and support private-sector participation in our dedication and commitment to achieve this mandate.

“Beyond keeping the lights on, we are very deliberate about the optimization of productive use equipment and appliances to catalyse socio-economic development in off-grid communities.

“We understand how important it is for beneficiaries of off-grid technologies to appreciate the windows of possibilities sustainable energy presents. This is why this component is very important.

“Through the REA, the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) which is funded by the World Bank and the African Development Bank was established to increase access to electricity services to unserved and underserved households, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the rural communities as well as Federal Universities and Teaching Hospitals throughout Nigeria,” Salihijo said.