May 10, 2015 – Lagos State Government currently generates not less than 5 megawatts of electricity from solar power now used to power public schools and Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in remote areas.
Speaking at the launch of the Lagos Solar project in Ikeja, the Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola described the project as an attestation of the state’s quest for groundbreaking achievements, stressing that other states would key into similar project.
He said the project would create a conducive environment for learning in schools and 24 hours power to affected PHCs.
Speaking through his deputy, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the governor said the state has been consistent with the PATH agenda, Power, Agriculture, Transportation and Housing, adding that there has never been any government in Nigeria that generates own power like Lagos State did. “This project is our initiative to provide power for schools in rural areas,” she said.
Also Speaking the General Manager Lagos State Electricity Board Mrs. Damilola Ogunbiyi said the first task the board carried out was an energy audit of all 655 public junior and secondary schools across the six educational districts and 260 PHCs within all 20 Local Governments in Lagos.
“This audit was undertaken to determine each school’s energy requirement, actual consumption, power infrastructure as well as an assessment of how energy supply gaps are currently being met.
The interpretation of the results formed the basis of the system design, costs, planning and selection of solar technology required to provide sustainable, dependable, clean and cost-effective energy supply,” she said. She added that the system design provided for sufficient power of critical loads in the schools and PHCs during peak activities with a system protection in place to avoid overloading of the systems.
According to her, the project is coming alive with support from UK Department for International Development (DFID).
