Solar power for Lagos villages.

03 Jan, 2008

Roughly 5,000 people living in the Badagry, Epe, Eredo and Ojo local government areas of Lagos are to benefit from a solar power scheme financed by the state government, the Science and Development Network website reports. The communities involved in the N150 million project do not have access to the national electricity grid.

Work is reported to have started in the villages concerned ahead of the delivery of the solar panels, which is expected by the end of January.

The initiative follows a pilot solar project launched in May last year on Bishop Kodji Island between the Atlantic ocean and Lagos lagoon, where around 5,000 villagers now have electricity in the community hall, churches, mosques and schools.

The government of Imo in eastern Nigeria is also using solar energy to power streetlights and other services as part of its