Due to the strategic importance of energy in achieving sustainable development and poverty reduction in the ECOWAS and Sahel region, the World Bank and ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREE), have designed a regional renewable energy project, the Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project (ROGEP), aimed at increasing access to sustainable electricity supply, most especially in the rural areas of member states.
This was made known at a One- Day Workshop organized by ECOWAS and the World Bank, supported by the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in Abuja, with the theme: “Promoting Private Investment Standalone Solar Systems in West Africa and the Sahel”.
The Permanent Secretary, Power, Louis Edozien, who represented the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, at the event disclosed that stakeholders in the Power Sector should move from policy formulation and focus more on policy implementation in the electricity value chain, emphasizing, that this would improve the living standards of rural dwellers in the ECOWAS sub region.
He said we want to move from ‘’talking to acting, and to achieve that, we need to tackle manpower issues, funding gaps and materials’’.
The Minister said the Regional off -Grid Electrification Projects (ROGEP) was designed by ECOWAS and World Bank to increase access to sustainable electricity services in the ECOWAS region for household, commercial enterprises and public facilities.
The main objectives of the workshop was to create awareness and improve information on ROGEP and the national stakeholders, to share experience where we are on electricity, especially solar power system, identify challenges and proffer solutions in the electricity industry in the ECOWAS Region, among others.
Etore Thomas (Mrs.)
Ag. Director, Press
