Mr Sani Daura, the North-East Zonal Coordinator of Rural Electrification Agency (REA), says on Friday that the agency will soon provide electricity in the zone using other forms of renewable energy.
Daura, an engineer, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi that the agency would expand from the usual solar energy to mini-hydro power production.
He said that the agency would achieve this by constructing dams within the available sources of water in the sub-region.
He said that the agency had set up a mini-hydro power project in Jibo community of Taraba state.
“The use of water sources as a means of generating power is far more efficient than that from solar; and the power generated from it can be conserved for future use.
“The introduction of renewable energy such as solar, wind, bi-mass and mini-hydro will enhance the development of rural electrification.
“From one project, many neighbouring communities will benefit.
“The mini-hydro energy is a proposed plan that will enable rural communities to conserve electricity for usage in the future.
“The agency has established one in Taraba state and we are looking forward to establishing more in areas with sources of water and can be dammed as well,’’ he said.
Daura said that 18 projects were awarded and completed in 2016 across the six states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe from which many communities benefited from.
He said that through the electrification of rural communities, migration could be reduced; hence the need to embark on such projects to reduce over stretching of social facilities in urban centres.
Daura, however, said that paucity of funds to complete the projects as and when due was one of its challenges.
This had led to the vandalisation of electrical wires and poles as well as stealing of other materials
and then