3 months ago
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A non-governmental organisation, the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Center has commissioned a solar mini-grid electricity facility at Umuolu community in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, powering the community for the first time since its inception.
Designed and installed by YEAC-Nigeria, through its subsidiary, YEAC Community Energy and Development and YEAC-UK, the solar power system is expected to empower the local economy, and improve healthcare, education, and overall quality of life of the community.
Speaking at the commissioning on Monday, the executive director of YEAC-Nigeria, Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface noted that the mini-grid, which allows for a full capacity of 90-kilowatt and can connect at least 262 houses in the community, is part of the NGO’s contribution to the fight against pipeline vandalism and other environmental-related ills in the Niger Delta.
Fyneface said, “Today marks a significant step forward in our collective mission and vision to foster sustainable development and create a brighter future for our communities in the Niger Delta. This solar mini-grid facility represents more than just an infrastructural project; it is a beacon of hope and a testament to what we can achieve when we come together with a shared vision.
“The primary purpose of this facility is to support the government and other organisations’ efforts to mitigate pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries, and associated environmental pollution in the Niger Delta by offering alternative livelihood opportunities, powered by renewable energy and thereby reinforcing positive behaviour for environmental protection and sustainability.
“The idea of contributing to Nigeria’s oil theft mitigation mechanism through community energy for households and its productive use also posited that with households powered, people would no longer use illegally refined petroleum products, particularly DPK and PMS, to energise their homes. This would shrink the market for illegal refiners and reduce incidents of pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries, and environmental pollution, as their supply chain and demand would drastically drop in communities with clean, renewable, and sustainable solar electricity.
“Technically, the design of this mini-grid allows for a full capacity of 90 kW, which can connect at least 262 houses, including businesses in Umuolu, with potential for expansion based on observed increased energy consumption levels.”
The environmental justice campaigner stressed that alternative livelihood opportunities and youth empowerment are among the solutions in the Niger Delta, as he called upon stakeholders to support and continue investing in this transformative initiative of the organization to enable it to extend to other communities in the Niger Delta.
He added, “Generally, across the Niger Delta, including Umuolu, and in line with our government-approved mandate ‘to campaign against oil theft, artisanal refineries, and pollution,’ we have earmarked 10 solar mini-grids for installation in different communities without electricity in the next couple of years to effectively strengthen our contributions to the fight against pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft, artisanal refineries, and environmental pollution through alternative livelihood opportunities powered by clean and renewable energy for artisanal refiners and youths.
“With the successful installation, operation and inauguration of Umuolu solar mini-grid today, YEAC-Nigeria has increased the list of its initiatives aimed at oil theft mitigation mechanisms for Nigeria, which include our proposed Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative, that recommends the innovation and legalization of artisanal refineries; Network on Organised Crime in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea, which has been modified by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for establishment as ECOWAS Standby Force; initiation of National Conference Organized Crime in Nigerian and the Gulf, as a platform for annual deliberations on ways to tackle organized crime in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
“With additional funding, YEAC-CEAD can also expand its efforts to assist Umuolu youths in establishing and growing small and medium-scale enterprises, powered by this mini-grid. This will not only provide them with sustainable livelihoods, but also help dissuade them from engaging in illegal artisanal refineries, which have devastating impacts on our environment, health, and the livelihoods of our fishermen and farmers.
“Together, we can create a future where renewable energy powers our community, empowers our youth to engage in meaningful economic activities and protects our environment for future generations.”
The chairman of Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, who performed the commissioning of the solar mini-grid, Vincent Osilonya, expressed excitement over the project as he pledged the local government’s readiness to support the organization to spread the project across the local council.
Represented by the Supervisory Councilor for Health, Ndokwa East, Hon. Olisah Robinson Osilonya, said, “Ndokwa East Local Government Area is a very conducive environment, a very peaceful environment that will encourage this kind of development, therefore we are calling on them to come into Ndokwa East, we don’t have a problem in Ndokwa East, they should come and we have communities that need this. We will encourage them to go around the communities, if they need the assistance of the local government, we will be there for them.”
He also advised the people of Umuolu to take proper care of the project, saying, “To Umuolu people, I want to tell you to guard this project jealously from vandalism and work according to the norms of the project. I heard that there was a little seminar organized to educate you on the issue of light consumption, if you don’t have anything to do, put off your light so that it will help, this is solar we are talking about, so if you don’t have anything doing with any of your appliances, you put it off, that’s my advice to Umuolu people.”
Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the event, the President-General of Umuolu Development Union, Engr. Isicheri Stanley Tabowei, lauded the YEAC, their partners and contractor, NXT Grid Nigeria and the Netherlands, for their support and collaboration in making the project a reality.
Tabowei said the community, which is over 700 years old has never experienced electricity other than from generators, describing the project as the mark of a new dawn of energy independence and environmental stewardship.
He said, “Since the creation of this community more than 700 years ago. We have not seen electricity in this form in Umuolu, this is the first of its kind and we are very grateful to God and YEAC and their partners for making this thing happen for us. We have lived over the years without electricity and the best we know is diesel generators and ‘I-better-pass-my-neigbour’ generators, which come at a very high cost due to fuel and diesel prices. Today, Umuolu is being powered by solar which is noiseless and environmentally friendly. We are happy and we thank God for this.
“This electrification project will provide numerous benefits to our community. It will power homes, businesses, schools, churches, the hospital, fostering economic growth and improving the standard of living of our people. This project is not just about electricity; it is about creating opportunities, transforming lives and taking our children away from societal ills.
“As we commission this solar-powered mini-grid, let it be known that the Umuolu community committed no funds to the execution of this project. I thank the ‘Uti family’ and community leadership for making the parcel of land where this project is located available free of charge to YEAC and Nxt Grid. I believe very strongly that, there would be a replication of this in some of our neighbouring communities.”
Similarly, an elated member of the community who identified herself as Evelyn Tombia Mamam, said, “I thank God for a day like this because it has not been easy for us in this community, it is as if we are not part of this country. I thank God for bringing this project to our community.
“Even if you wake my forefathers from the grave, they will never believe that the electricity supply is now in Umuolu. I pray that more projects like this will come to Umuolu community.”
The auspicious occasion had in attendance the Leader of theNdokwa East 9th Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Franklin Ifeanyi Ogiriki, the councillor of Ward 12, Omuolu, Hon. Bright Emuesike, amongst other dignitaries.
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