The people of Quan’Pan local government area of Plateau State have welcomed the commissioning of a solar mini grid that they say will boost local businesses, and improve quality of life.
Quan’Pan has never had a functioning electricity, and project is part of a global rural energy access initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Plateau State Energy Corporation and Cloud Energy. The project is aimed at providing reliable power to rural communities.
In his remarks during the commissioning, Governor Mutfwang said the project marks a new chapter in the development of Namu and other rural communities that have long remained in darkness.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the lives of rural dwellers through three key areas such as electricity, road construction, and water supply.
The Governor disclosed that about 6 kilometers of the Jibam road is nearing completion, and assured residents that many kilometers of this road would be completed before the next rainy season.
Describing the event as a significant milestone, the Governor said the commissioning of the solar project represents ‘the beginning of a journey of transformation” for Quan’Pan and Plateau State at large.
Mutfwang commended the Federal Government, REA, UNDP, and GEF for their collaboration and urged the people of Namu, particularly the youth, to safeguard the facility and use the opportunity to engage in productive ventures that would drive local development.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the REA, Dr. Abba Aliyu, explained that the Namu project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to expand rural energy access through renewable power solutions.
According to Aliyu, the Federal Government has approved a $750 million renewable energy programme, the largest publicly funded clean energy initiative in the world designed to deliver electricity to over 17.5 million Nigerians through more than 1,350 mini-grids nationwide.
He noted that Plateau State will benefit from 42 mini-grid projects, and 10 of which are sited in Qua’an Pan LGA.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Quan’Pan Local Government Area, Hon. Christopher Audu Manchip, thanked the Governor for what he described as the first of project of its kind in the area.
He said the initiative has brought development back to the grassroots and would lift the people from poverty and steer them to the path of progress.
Manchip added that the people of Quan’Pan remain grateful for the Governor’s commitment to improving lives and promoting inclusive development.
Also speaking, a resident who is also the Director General of the Plateau State ICT Development Agency, Mr. Dating Dominic, said the project holds great significance for Namu people of about 10,000 residents who prior to now lacked electricity.
He noted that the area hosts active economic centers, including a rice processing facility and a local market, which will now benefit from steady power supply.
Dominic added that the solar mini grid supports the global shift toward renewable energy and strengthens the economic base of Quan’Pan and Namu in particular.
He commended Governor Mutfwang for selecting Namu as one of the host communities, describing it as a strategic and timely decision given the town’s importance to the local and state economy.
Community leaders and residents also expressed excitement over the development, noting that the solar mini grid will tremendously advance them.