Following the inauguration of the African Development Bank (AfDB) $210 million projects in Abuja, the Federal Government has urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure total local content compliance in the execution of the power  projects.

The board of AfDB had approved $200 million for Nigeria to boost power supply across the country, in a resolution in Abidjan in November, 2019.

The funds which would be channelled through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), are to provide mini grids in the country.

READ ALSO: Electricity: 16 generating plants generate zero megawatts

Speaking during the inauguration, the Minister of State for Power, Mr Goddy Jedy-Agba, encouraged the bank and REA to ensure local content in the implementation of projects in order to boost local industries.

Jedy-Agba, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Power, Mr Ahmed Zakari  , said: “As we execute these projects, I will encourage the AfDB and REA to ensure the use of local content in the execution, so that we can boost local industries in this difficult economic time.” he said.

Also, AfDB’s Acting Vice President, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, Mr Wale Shonibare, said that the bank was intervening in different segments of the power value chain.

READ ALSO: ELECTRICITY: No subsidy from FG since privatisation – DISCOs

According to him, AfDB  is committed to supporting the Nigeria power sector and has initiated a lot of projects .

Shonibare said the projects include: the  410 million dollars  support for implementation of the Nigeria Transmission Expansion Programme.

He said that  the bank also  approved one million  dollars grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to support the Nigerian Government’s implementation of Phase 1 of the Jigawa Solar project.

According to him, the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP) when implemented, will result in more than 500,000 people having access to electricity.

“The work of electrifying Nigeria is a continuous process. There is a lot of planning involved in ensuring that investments are made in a transparent way.

“In the right place and at the right time as we set about bringing electric power to the unserved and underserved Nigerians in a sustainable way,

“We  will continue to use the tools at our disposal  to ensure that universal access to electricity becomes the norm.” he said.

The Managing Director of REA, Mr Ahmad Salihijo said that the project would boost economic growth in the local communities.