NEWS:Gov Fitiri Launches €10m Solar Project in Adamawa

By Barnabas Augustine

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has launched ten million Euros Solar Project Phase 1 to be funded by the European Union (EU) at the Conference Hall Government House, Yola.

The Governor who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Government House Yola, Prof. Maxwell Gidado, SAN was delighted with the laudable project which he said it will provide access to sustainable energy supply to off-grid public health facilities in the State.

While thanking the EU for funding the projects in the State, Governor Fintiri said the project will provide relief to people that suffered from the menace of the insurgency. And, assured the European body the State’s readiness and support at all time.

The Governor appeal to the EU to extend such project to the Southern Zone of the State who were devastated recently in the farmers/herders crisis. Adding that the Education Sectors also needs intervention and further appeal to the EU to support the State in providing relief materials to over 4,000 Adamawa indigenes to be repatriated from Cameroon in August this year.

Earlier in his welcome remark, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Energy Mr. Mennas Jacob Ngangurah said that the €10m Solar Project in Adamawa will be installed in health facilities in Gulak, Michika, Mubi, Maiha, Garkida and Ga’anda,  

Mr. Ngangurah thanked the EU for launching the project which was in partnership with the Adamawa State Government, stressing that it will provide solar power in the healthcare facilities and call on other donors to partake in boosting the health sector in the State.

In his vote of thanks, the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health Mr. Kennedy Bathmawus thanked Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for the given attention to health sector in Adamwa State which lead to the noble intervention programme by EU which according to him will facilitate healthcare delivery in the state.

Mr. Bathmawus solicited to EU to extend such gesture to other health facilities that are yearning for the solar project in the State.

Earlier, the Head of Operation, European Union, Kurt Cornelis said that a study conducted in 2013 showed that only 34% of hospitals have reliable electricity access in Sub-Saharan African countries. Noting that electricity access enhances access to quality essential health care services while making health system more resilient.  

“The EU strongly supports the Nexus of the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG) affordable, reliable and clean energy, SDG 3, Good Health and Well-Being and SDG 4, Quality Education and has been one of the leaders in the UN initiative on Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL), Mr. Cornelis said.

“Access to electricity and promotion of sustainable energy solutions is at the core of our cooperation with Nigeria: more than 150m EUR has been allocated to this focal sector in our current programming phase with a lot of effort put on promoting the use of solar technology”.

The EU Head of Operation stressed that the project Solar Nigeria is not new; it has proven to be successful in its first and second phases in Lagos and Kaduna States which was funded by DFID. Adding that the EU is scaling this project now by committing 30 million EUROs to support Kano, Kaduna and Adamawa States and additional 7.5m in Borno.

Mr. Crnelis maintained that in Adamawa State, the EU is investing €10 million out of the overall budget to provide sustainable energy supply in 8 health facilities across the state using solar PV. This he said includes: 5 General Hospitals, 1 Tertiary Health Institution and 2 Primary Health Centres.

Highlight of the event was presentation of “Gulam”, a hand weaving local fabric to the EU Head of Cooperation.