Power Boost For South-East: Tinubu Approves Solar Lights For 500,000 Rural Households

President Bola Tinubu has approved the distribution of 500,000 solar-powered lights to rural households across Nigeria’s South-East region, according to Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.

Kalu made the disclosure during the flag-off of the Renewed Hope Light-Up initiative in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, where 26 transformers were distributed to communities as part of efforts to improve electricity access.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Kalu said approximately 42,000 households in Bende had been selected to benefit from the programme. He added that the first batch of 10,000 solar-powered lights and fans was expected to arrive within two weeks.

The deputy speaker explained that the initiative began with a pilot phase during which 1,000 units were provided to selected beneficiaries. He noted that representatives from various wards in the constituency had confirmed that the equipment supplied during the pilot phase was functioning.

Kalu said the programme was designed to extend the benefits of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to rural communities, particularly households struggling with unreliable electricity supply.

He described the planned distribution of solar-powered lighting systems to 42,000 households in a single federal constituency as an unprecedented intervention, expressing optimism that it would improve access to basic electricity services in underserved areas.

The initiative is expected to provide an alternative source of lighting and power for households that have experienced prolonged electricity disruptions, while supporting broader efforts to improve living conditions in rural communities.

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Ndubuisi, the lawmaker representing Bende South Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, welcomed the intervention. He disclosed that some communities in the area had been without electricity for approximately two years following transformer failures.

Ndubuisi expressed hope that the provision of new transformers and solar-powered equipment would help address the electricity challenges affecting residents and improve access to essential power services.